Eastridge opened as the largest mall on the West Coast in 1971 and has been redesigned multiple times throughout its history, most recently in 2017.

The mall opened on May 17, 1971, with the original anchors of Macy's, Liberty House, J. C. Penney, Joseph Magnin Co., and Sears.

In 1993, the Spillman Engineering 3 Abroad carousel, made c.1920 by Allan Herschell Company was restored and placed in the mall.

[3] In February 2012, two teenage boys were stabbed and left in critical condition at the mall, which led to J. C. Penney and Macy's closing temporarily.

[14][15] The four murals cover a total of 20,000 square feet of artwork and carried out by four different artists: Aaron de la Cruz, Brendan Monroe, CYRCLE, and Lila Gemellos.

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) operates the Eastridge Transit Center on the northeast edge of the mall along Capitol Expressway.