“I’m just beside myself,” Angie Warren saidof the success of Thursday night’s inaugural Girls’ Night Out eventorganized by the Best of Brookhaven and the Chamber ofCommerce.

    Warren, who owns Expectations, one of the retailers participatingin the event, said 325 tickets were sold at her store alone.

    “I was thinking that if we could sell only 200, then that would bea success,” Warren said.

    She estimated the total number of tickets sold to be about 650.

The event was organized to bring womentogether to shop in Brookhaven and promote local businesses.

    Brookhaven’s Whitney Holmes said she thought it was a greatopportunity for her to get to shop at the stores that are normallyclosed when she gets off from her job.

    “I don’t get to shop at these places after 5 p.m.,” Holmes said. “Ithink it’s a good chance for people like me to have access to thestores, and a good chance to promote shopping local.”

    Trinidy Wilson, of Brookhaven, brought her 9-year-old daughter,Charlsie, out to enjoy the event.

    “We love to shop together,” Wilson said. “It’s a wonderful way forus to spend time together. This is really a great thing that hasbeen organized for everybody.”

    The event not only saw local people come out, but brought many infrom out of town. Warren said that tickets were mailed out forpeople in Meridian, Brandon and Clinton, La., among otherplaces.

    “The music is blaring. There’s lots of people shopping,” Warrensaid. “I think most of the excitement comes from being able to callthe babysitter, forget your worries and come out and have somefun.

    “For this being the first year of this event is amazing,” Warrensaid. “I just can’t believe the success of it, and I can’t wait tosee what the next time will be like.”