At night, strippers conduct an entirely different type of business at the Marine Room. The other nine addresses on that side of the street are unoccupied. The vacancies are a peculiarity because, for the most part, activity immediately surrounds that stretch of block in every direction. The First Union building, Ramada Hotel, Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and Augusta Museum of History form an imperfect ring around the empty business fronts. Barrett Plumbing Supply is the most recent tenant to move from the block, relocating to a larger store on Mike Padgett Highway.
Current parking is limited for daytime businesses.
The street is narrower than in the 500 block, and visitors to the chamber often claim much of the center island parking. Food and liquor - that's about it downtown. You want a big mix of people and of businesses. Evolving plans in the vicinity of the odd-numbered addresses might help 600 block catch up with other redevelopment efforts, however. Developer Deke Copenhaver said he is in the early stages of his efforts to convert the old Commerce building across the street at 670 Broad into condominiums.