Opened in 1979, the mall originally featured Sears and JCPenney as its anchor stores, with Elder-Beerman (later in 2011 known as Carson's) being added in the 1990s.

[9] Walgreens moved out of the Orchards Mall in the mid-1990s, with its store space remaining vacant until Jo-Ann Fabrics replaced it in the late-mid 2000s.

[14] General Growth sold the mall to Sequoia Investments in 2002, at which point four more businesses opened, including a Subway and a Chinese eatery in the food court.

[22] In 2014, the mall was put up for sale;[23] Kohan Retail Investment Group purchased it on December 9.

On January 31, 2018, The Bon-Ton announced that Carson's would be part of a plan to close 42 stores nationwide.

The owner, Kohan Retail Investment Group had outstanding water bills.

[1][27] On March 4, 2019, it was announced that JCPenney would also be closing as part of its planned closure of 27 stores nationwide.

[29] In November 2021, Jo-Ann Fabrics announced it would be closing and relocating to the space next to the nearby Ollie's Bargain Outlet that once held Ridge & Kramer Auto Parts and Big Lots.

[31][32] In late December 2022, a burst water main caused significant damage in the mall.

[3] As tenants have vacated the mall, gulls have become a nuisance;[33][34][35] a bird deterrent was installed in summer 2023.