Developer Johnny Lynch and other investorswere all smiles Tuesday when they opened the doors to the newestaddition to a reviving downtown residential sector.

    The Inn on Whitworth hosted an open house for the public that leftLynch beaming with pride and excitement as he greeted guests whothemselves had nothing but excitement in return for the newhotel/apartment hybrid.

    “This is a really good crowd here,” Lynch said after the doorsopened at 4 p.m. “We’re all excited about it so far. We’re givingaway three free nights at the hotel, and lots of people are signingup.”

    Hundreds of people filtered in and out to admire the modernfacelift to the historic building originally constructed in theearly 1900s.

    “We love it,” said Karron Smith, of Pat Lowery & Associates, asshe and a couple of co-workers admired one of the apartments on theupstairs level. “Everything is so unique.”

    “I just love the architecture altogether,” added Karrie Case, alsofrom Pat Lowery.

    Case and Smith exemplified the sentiments of those gathered torevel at the building’s completed renovations, which began back inthe spring of this year.

    While the open house was not the official grand opening, Lynch saidrenters for the upstairs apartment level are moved in, includingthe Inn’s innkeeper Diana Roberson.

    “I’m excited about it,” Roberson said. “I’m looking forward tobeing able to work downstairs and live upstairs in such a nicebuilding.”

    Hotel rooms have also been booked.

    “We had our first paying customer (Monday),” said Lynch, referringto a wedding party who will occupy the downstairs lower level hotelrooms. “We’ll probably have a ribbon cutting ceremony aboutmid-December.”

    He continued about the pleasure of finally completing the process,which involved heavy collaboration with the Mississippi Departmentof Archives and History to preserve the historical aspects of thebuilding, including the skylight, high ceilings, hardwood floorsand front entrance awning.

    “It’s been a fun process and tiring to do it,” he said. “I’m happyabout this part. We’re completely open for business now.”

    Lynch explained one of the reasons the endeavor was begun by he andother investors – Jeff Doremus, Shannon Patterson, Richard Rushingand Steven Mills – was in an effort to keep local businessesthriving downtown.

    “It can be hard for small businesses downtown to operatesometimes,” he said. “So it’s a way to bring out-of-towners todowntown to see all the other great things we have to offer. It’sgoing to be a great thing for Brookhaven.”

    Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Executive VicePresident Cliff Brumfield agreed that the new Inn should have animpact on the city.

    “It brings an element of style,” he said. “It’s a unique venue fordowntown. It should not only be very appreciated, but it’sunexpected to see something like this in a town our size.”

    He said he hopes the Inn will bring out-of-towners as well,possibly even encouraging some Amtrak passengers to stop overnightto enjoy the hotel and the shopping downtown has to offer.

    “We’re definitely fortunate to have local investors who saw valuein putting this project together,” Brumfield continued. “Theircommitment and belief in downtown is something everyone should beproud of.”

    Indeed the Inn does bring a fresh look while maintaining thehistoric charm of which Brookhaven has always been known.

    Surrounded by an appreciative and enlivened group of well-wishingcitizens, Lynch said while he has enjoyed the experience and seeingthe excitement and interest of the public, he has no immediateplans to take up another project.

    “No plans for anything else, yet,” he said with a smile. “I’mpretty tired.”