The center included a large, freestanding, 4-story May Company department store, designed by Albert C. Martin and Associates (with a public fallout shelter in the basement).

[2] On November 1, 1960, the Democratic nominee for President, John F. Kennedy, gave a speech at the South Bay Center on the last stop of his campaign tour.

Later on, some new tenants made their debut in the late 1960s and mid-1970s, which included Sunset House Gifts, Florsheim Shoes, Nobby, Pier One Imports, and Putney Station Restaurant at the north parking lot near Artesia Blvd.

In 1985 Forest City Development built a fully enclosed indoor mall to replace the open-air shopping center, to become the "Galleria at South Bay."

[5] In 1992 Forest City sold a half-interest in the center to CalPERS,[6] before buying it back in 2001 and changing the official name to South Bay Galleria.

[8] On August 24, 2015, the South Bay Galleria has announced that they will hold off on finding a replacement for its newly departed Nordstrom store, until the entire mall is renovated.

[11] On January 25, 2018, Australian investment firm QIC acquired South Bay Galleria from Cleveland-based Forest City.