General Growth sold the mall as part of a larger portfolio of 19 centers to a passive institutional investor, Equitable Life Assurance Society in 1984.

The Famous-Barr division of May Company bought the closed anchor, demolished it and opened a new store on the same site in 1996.

After the mall was acquired by a partnership of Simon Property Group and Macerich, it was expanded to provide a larger food court area and a carousel was installed.

After the Federated and May Company department store merger in 2005, the Famous-Barr site was closed in 2006 and sold to Dillard's.

[8] In July 2017, Gymboree announced they will close 350 outlet locations, including the one at Eastland Mall.