The Alano Club West was founded "to provide meeting facilities and a supportive atmosphere for people in recovery" according to their website.
Nearly 40 years have passed since the club first made it's home on Minnesota Avenue at Lincoln Avenue in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose. In the fall of 2006, following several tough years of battles with the zoning commission and problems with neighbors, the club sadly closed it's doors. The club was home to many, many community residents in recovery and a welcoming place for those still in the pit of despair as a result of their addiction. During their years at the Minnesota Avenue location, Alano Club West provided not only a place to attend meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, but offered creative fund raisers, sober parties and dances, baseball games, picnics, and free to all Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Nothing but good can come out of finding the club a new home.
Following the closure of the club, the many meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous were left to find new places to meet while Alano Club officials and caring members searched for a new location to call home. Meetings have been held at local churches and at a local Denny's Restaurant.
A location was finally found in Campbell on Dell Avenue. Alano Club West was to share facilities with the American Legion in their large hall. Sadly, once again, the club was forced to move on. This was apparently the result of new zoning ordinances of which club officials were not aware.
Once again, the Alano Club West has no permanent home. Meetings formerly held at the Dell Avenue site may be located through the local Alcoholics Anonymous Central Office. With the closure of the club, San Jose area recovering people lost a valuable resource and the entire community lost a valuable asset.
