Front Street in 1883 was a row of little stores mixed with saloons, boarding houses and some general merchandising establishments.

A list of the more important business places located on the street at that time was compiled by Ingoif Dillan as follows:

Seth C. Thomas, father of Mrs. Judd Wright, receiving deposits made on loans in his little banking office in the rear of Hill & Co. store. The Bank of Brainerd opened at 5th and Front. Nearby was E. M. Westfall's clothing store, McFadden and Johnson's Pharmacy and J. T. Sanborn's City Hotel.

"Among the many businesses advertising in the newspapers during the '80's were: W. A. Smith and Co., 'Nobby staple things in boots and shoes; Leopold, The Boss' Clothier; F. G. Sundberg, jeweler; the Proud Bakery; C. B. Sleeper's Real Estate and Law Office; C. V. Washam, boots and shoes; the Brainerd Bazaar, Linneman and Koop dry goods; Conklin, Clark and Co. Hardware."