307 6th St 6,327 SF Retail Building Charleston, IL 61920 $99,000 ($15.65/SF)

307 6th Street is a well-maintained historic commercial building located in the heart of downtown Charleston, Illinois. Steeped in local heritage, this property served as the longtime home of The Charleston Courier for nearly a century, making it one of the community’s most recognizable and cherished commercial landmarks. Despite its age, the building has been thoughtfully maintained and updated over the years, preserving its historic charm while offering functionality suited for modern commercial use. Over the past decade, the building has successfully operated as both a Tae-Kwon-Do studio and, more recently, a thriving dance studio, further demonstrating the versatility and appeal of its layout and location.
Situated within Charleston’s active downtown business district, 307 6th Street benefits from excellent visibility, walkability, and proximity to a variety of local amenities. The surrounding area features a vibrant mix of retail shops, restaurants, service providers, and professional offices, drawing consistent foot traffic from residents, visitors, and Eastern Illinois University students alike. The charm of the historic downtown streetscape enhances the appeal of this property, making it an ideal location for businesses seeking character, visibility, and accessibility.
The building is approximately 6,300 square feet and is divided into two primary sections: a large front retail/office area and a rear warehouse/garage space. The front section comprises roughly 4,900 square feet and features an open, flexible layout suitable for a wide range of commercial uses including retail, boutique fitness, specialty studios, professional offices, or creative workspaces. This portion of the building also includes a full basement, which provides valuable additional storage capacity or potential space for expanded programming or activity areas.
The rear portion of the building contains approximately 1,425 square feet of warehouse/garage space. This area features 14-foot ceilings and an overhead door measuring roughly 9 feet by 13.5 feet, offering convenient access and utility for inventory storage, workshop use, or support for a retail or service-based business. The combination of storefront retail space with functional warehouse capabilities is exceptionally rare for downtown Charleston and adds unique value to the asset.
307 6th Street offers substantial power capacity, including 400 AMP / 480-volt service, with the warehouse portion also equipped with three-phase 208-volt power. The building includes two air-conditioning units on the rubber flat roof, as well as a third ceiling-mounted AC unit in the front area. The basement houses two heaters and a sump pump. Recent updates include new awnings, an improved façade, and tuckpointing, all of which enhance curb appeal and structural integrity. The front section of the building also offers two women’s restrooms and one men’s restroom, supporting a wide range of commercial or public-facing uses.
The combination of historic character, flexible floorplan, modern utilities, and an outstanding downtown location makes this property a highly desirable opportunity. Its long track record of successful use as a fitness and activity-based business demonstrates its functional layout, but the building is equally well suited for traditional retail, professional offices, specialty shops, studio uses, or even mixed commercial concepts. Businesses seeking iconic architecture, ample space, and strong visibility will find 307 6th Street uniquely positioned to meet a wide variety of operational needs.

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Charleston is the county seat of, Coles County, Illinois. The population was 17,286, as of the 2020 census. The city is home to Eastern Illinois University and has close ties with its neighbor, Mattoon. Both are principal cities of the Charleston–Mattoon Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Eastern Illinois University was founded in 1895. There are currently 7,415 students enrolled in 51 undergraduate degree programs, 32 graduate degree programs, and 10 post-baccalaureate certificate programs.
Coles County is a county in Illinois. As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,863. Its county seat is Charleston, which is also the home of Eastern Illinois University. Coles County is part of the Charleston-Mattoon, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.