The Center for Shopping was built in 1989.  It was the first new shopping center in the area for years back then.  It was anchored by Ames and Shaw's supermarket. Ames already had a store downtown and Shaw’s was located at the Sanford Plaza.  Both moved to the new shopping center looking for larger space and more modern stores.  

In December 2001, Ames closed 54 stores including 2 in Maine: Falmouth and Sanford. Shaw's announced it would relocate their store to the former Ames site. The vacant store was demolished and a large and modern supermarket was build. The former Shaw’s however, was  then still vacant.  

In 2004, Marshalls opened in about half the former supermarket. Dollar Tree has opened in the other half later. Marshalls closed in 2016 after it relocated its store to the new The Ridge development in Rochester NH.