[1][2] Shoppingtown Mall began as an open-air shopping center, first announced in August 1953 and managed by Eagan Real Estate Inc. At this time, tenants including F. W. Woolworth, J. C. Penney, Walgreens, Grand Union, Acme Markets, Fanny Farmer, Endicott Johnson, and Kinney Shoes had already signed on to the project.

[3] Local Syracuse department store Addis' signed onto the project in February 1954, and later that month a four-day grand opening gala was announced, set to begin March 3.

[27] Shortly after this, Wilmorite Properties gained control of the mall through a partnership with Eagan in Summer 1989, announcing a major remodel later that year.

[33] Steinbach's closed July 1, 1994, after recording hundreds of thousands in losses at the store, and TJ Maxx relocated to the Fayetteville Mall.

[34] Media Play was announced in April 1994, taking over the former Woolworth's and Kallet Theater spaces for a 48,000 sq ft (4,500 m2) location.

[40][41][42][43] In March 2007, Macerich announced plans to create an open-air plaza with new shops facing Erie Boulevard East in the Sears wing, though this never materialized perhaps due to the economic recession.

In October 2015, Dick's Sporting Goods closed its ShoppingTown Mall store and relocated to a nearby DeWitt Commons.

Moonbeam Capital served eviction notices to all remaining tenants in September 2020 to make way for a new $400 million development, which will be named District East.

Much of the existing mall will be demolished for a phased development that includes a substantial residential component, a movie theater complex, a "premium" grocer, specialty retail, and services like doctors and medical offices.