West Suburban
Alano Club

A little background.......

The original concept for starting the West Suburban Alano Club goes back to 1956. At that time the original club members attended meetings at an AA member’s home in Downers Grove. In 1958 the homeowner retired to Florida and the members were without a place to meet. The remaining members rented the basement of St. Paul’s Church in Downers Grove and continued to meet there until 1963. In February 5th 1963 the building at 37 W. Quincy St. Westmont (presently Barrett Cleaners) was rented, and the club was granted a Charter by the State of Illinois on February 1963.

Over the years as membership grew it was realized that additional space would be needed to accommodate the growing numbers. The club attempted to purchase a vacant school building on Cass avenue however the building was destroyed in a fire.

In 1971 the Club began renting the building in which it currently resides. 17 W. Quincy Street Westmont. The building, constructed in 1927, originally housed the Bank of Westmont. The club currently uses the vault for it's office space. In 1998 the Club purchased the building outright and has become the permanent home of the WSAC.

Since 1963, teenagers, singles, couples, grandparents, the well-established and the homeless, the employed and the jobless, those referred by the court system, and graduates from other programs around the Chicago area; all come to this alcohol and drug-free, drop-in community center in the heart of downtown Westmont.