The 675,000 ft² plaza opened in 1974 and included two anchors, Sears and Kmart, at opposite ends of the mall.

The Galleria's existence led to the slow decline and eventual closure of South Hills Mall.

Upon opening, anchors were Sears and Kmart, in addition to dozens of smaller shops and stores, including Record World, Walden Books, NY Piano and Organ, Spencer Gifts, and Endicott Johnson Shoes.

An eight-screen movie theater opened in 1984 in the space previously occupied by Park Place Roller Rink.

In 1985, an expansion in the center of the mall added a food court, which featured a Burger King, a sandwich shop, and a pizza place, as well as a Hess's department store.

In the 1990s, South Hills was sold to Sarakreek Holdings NV, a Dutch property holding firm which attempted to revive the mall by opening "big-box" retailers like Media Play, Old Navy, Office Max, Discovery Zone, and Bob's Stores.

For a period of time from January through May 2008, the only remaining sources of income for the mall were the major anchor stores; Silver Cinemas, Kmart, Burlington Coat Factory, ShopRite, and Namco Pools.

Kmart retained a section of the South Hills Mall interior walkway, as a way to allow customers who parked behind the property to reach the store.

The space, newly rebranded as the Shoppes and South Hills strip mall, finished construction in 2009, with Christmas Tree Shops and New England–based Bob's Discount Furniture both opening their doors the same year.