ADAIR VILLAGE — The A.V. Market & Pub building — originally built as the fire station for Camp Adair during World War II — has been vacant since a fire scorched its interior in December 2006.

“It was a black pit to be in here. It stunk like smoke,” said Tim Bennett, of Chase Electrical Construction, as he screwed a light fixture into the ceiling.

Things have changed, though.

The city, which owns the structure and property, started renovations in September and the project is nearly finished. Soon the city will begin accepting business proposals for the building.

City Administrator Drew Foster said he hopes another market, a deli or something else to benefit the community will move in.

Candice Dinnis, who is leading the refurbishment of the building, said there already have been inquiries.

The renovation went slightly over the $114,000 that fire insurance would cover. “We ran into so many things from the foundation to the electrical system,” Dinnis said.

“You really do have a new building, but if it was torn down, you’d have to pay a lot more,” she added.

Leasing details will be announced during an open house on Feb. 23.

The event, from noon to 4 p.m., is aimed to share the roots of the structure and the community, with memorabilia, historical displays and plastic fire hats for children.

The building still has the old garage doors from the fire station, and the renovation exposed 1940s-era Douglas fir floors in the pub that had been covered with vinyl and carpet for years. It’s one of only a handful of remaining structures in town from the war years, Dinnis said.

But officials have an eye toward the future.

“We want the community to see this as the starting point to becoming a more self-sustained city,” said Angela Lazarean, city assistant planner and economic developer.

The A.V. Market & Pub operated for nearly 17 years, and for most of that, it was the only business in Adair Village open to the public. Residents hope that an urban growth boundary expansion will lead to housing developments that also will bring more shops, stores and other amenities.

Kyle Odegard can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.