In the early late 1970s and early 1980s a number of businesses operated out of 546-548 Penn Street. A reverse directory for 1980 shows Empire Securities, Empire Land & Realty, Empire Construction, and Neil E. Tees, Architect all sharing the same address and phone number.

At some point Empire Securities offered a "bomb readiness" training seminar to law enforcement agencies and individuals. The firm employed George Newman, Christopher Yeager, and George Fallon in this endeavor. Both Fallon and Yeager were working or had worked for the Camden Police Department.