The shopping center is widely known as the site of the 1972 near-fatal attempted assassination on Alabama Governor George Wallace during his campaign for the U.S. presidency.

The $2 million shopping center on 15 acres (61,000 m2) was developed by Berman Enterprises LP and opened on November 14, 1956, with 30 stores.

On April 24, 1964, the Hecht Company opened an 83,714-square-foot (7,777.3 m2) store, its sixth location in the Washington, D.C., area, at the center.

[2] A notable feature of the store at its opening was the French Provincial beauty salon and snack bar.

[3][4] Three days before the September 11 attacks, hijacker Mohamed Atta sent $5,000 to Mustafa Ahmad via a wire transfer he initiated at the Giant Food store located in the shopping center.