Opened in 1960, the center lost most of its major stores in the late 1970s and underwent several failed attempts at renovation.

East Hills opened in 1960 under the development of Mellon-Stuart, a local engineering firm.

[3] In 1981, a local developer purchased the property with plans to convert it to a factory outlet mall.

[4] Golden Dawn Supermarket opened in the former Thorofare in 1980,[5] which closed five years later and became Giant Eagle.

The company planned to renovate the mall, which had only seven tenants at that point, for light industrial use.