The stretch of sidewalk down Congress and Free Street toward Monument Square was the main shopping and businesses district in Portland throughout the 20th century. Some of the businesses depicted along Congress Street in this postcard include the Markson Brothers department store (500 Congress Street) and the W.T. Grant Company department store (510-516 Congress Street).

The Markson Brothers store, which sold garments for both men and women, was founded by Portland residents Eldar and Morris Markson around 1903 and expanded into a firm that manufactured some of its own goods and had stores throughout Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.

The W.T. Grant store was of a chain of stores that William T. Grant founded in Massachusetts as a 25 cent store. There were 28 W.T. Grant department stores in Maine. The store included a lunch counter and sold women’s clothing, toys, books, furniture, records, electronic, and gardening supplies, among other commodities. The company went bankrupt in 1976, and the Congress Street store closed in 1980.

The caption reads, "Business District, Portland, Maine."

The Tichnor Brothers printing company published this type of postcard circa 1938.