For years, Ballston Common was viewed as a last resort for local shoppers—call it Arlington’s worst-kept secret. If the complicated parking garage didn’t deter you from visiting, the dated mall’s sheer lack of retail options may have. But the newly renovated Ballston Quarter, which aims to have select stores opening in late November, intends to change all that. It’s taken the old-school mall and literally turned it inside out, with shops and eateries that open to the sidewalk and a landscaped plaza—not to mention an entirely different selection of retailers. “This is a complete reimagining of what was there. It’s a real transformation,” says Will Vogel of Forest City Realty Trust, the site’s developer. “Now, it’s about the places you create, the interaction and experience, the way you embrace the community.” Don’t expect to see the usual mall stores. “We’re not trying to be Tysons Corner or Pentagon City. They already house all the national brands you could ever hope to shop,” Vogel says. Rather, the Quarter has courted regional, homegrown businesses and boutique retailers to complement a mix of smaller chains such as Scout & Molly’s, Francesca’s, Muse Paintbar and Yogibo. Here’s a look at what’s opening soon.