FERRIDAY — It may be the only tenant in an otherwise empty plaza, but Ferriday economic development officials say they hope the doctor’s office that has opened in a shopping center now owned by the town is the first step to revitalizing the strip mall.

When the town bought the building at a significant discount in 2014 — $116,000 for its approximate $743,000 value, most of which was written off in charitable donations by the then-owners — it had only one client, Fresensius Dialysis Center, which has since relocated to Vidalia.

It was out of that relocation that the town was able to find its first tenant, who last week cut the ribbon on a new doctor’s office.

Dr. John O’Brien has opened a 2,000-square foot nephrology and internal medicine clinic in the first storefront to be restored in the center. He had previously worked in Ferriday with the Fresensius clinic for 27 years.

The practice will be approximately half nephrology patients — those with kidney disorders — and half internal medicine, though the balance may shift more to internal medicine as things develop, O’Brien said.

Ferriday Economic Development Director Beatrice Cummings said that while the town had purchased the building as part of its larger economic development strategy, O’Brien was the one who approached them about locating in it.

“The dialysis center went away and we lost some of the doctors in town, so I decided I might give it a shot,” O’Brien said. “I thought I would fill a need.”

But to fill that need, he needed space.

And if he was going to have space, the building needed work.

Cummings said the town had a new roof put on the building, funded by a $125,000 economic development grant from the from the Delta Regional Authority.

Inside the ceiling tiles were sagging and the walls — which would need to be reconfigured for a doctor’s office — were showing their age.

Work on the interior started in March, and to keep costs down, the town used inmate carpenters to complete the work. All of the funds came from the grant and not out of the town’s coffers, Cummings said.

The finished product is one that looks less labyrinthine than a typical doctor’s office, with a wide waiting area that has patient rooms directly off it.

There were moments when the work looked more messy than promising, but now that it’s done O’Brien said he’s pleased with the space he’s been allowed to occupy.

“I got the vision as for what it could be, but when I got started, I said, ‘Oh my God, what have I done?’” he said. “But they have done a fantastic job.”

Theresa Beach, O’Brien’s office administrator, said the response of the public to the updated space has been one of appreciation.

“When people walk in, they feel comfortable,” she said.

“It is a pleasant atmosphere, they love the openness. We have gotten a lot of positive comments back.”

Cummings said another client is looking to move into the space adjacent to O’Brien mid-Spring. She said she couldn’t discuss who the client was, but said generally they are within the medical industry and will also have a 2,000-square foot office.

While one possible goal for the center is for it to become a medical strip mall, Cummings said a comprehensive plan for the entire center is still in the works. The town will only move forward with renovations as it receives money to fund them, she said.

“We are still at the table discussing the plan,” she said. “That’s really up to the doctors and other agencies what comes next.”