Our Story: The History of Seven-One-One

Prior to the formation of Seven-One-One, the “Olathe Group” of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon had many temporary homes (see below). Unfortunately, renting space from a landlord leaves non-profit groups like AA vulnerable to rent spikes, whimsical evictions, and sudden displacements as businesses and churches open and close their doors.

Seven-One-One Club, Inc. was formed in 2002 for the purpose of purchasing and maintaining a home for recovery groups in Olathe. Most folks don’t realize that AA and Al-Anon groups aren’t allowed to own property per their organizational bylaws. The property at 222 S. Kansas Ave. is known as an “Alano club” wherein members of an AA and Al-Anon group form a separate non-profit that buys a property and leases it to recovery groups, thereby avoiding the volatile nature of renting from churches, businesses, and private owners.

So in 2002, the formation of the 711 non-profit corporation started and we were on the hunt.

In October of 2004, Dr. O. B. Elliot was selling our current home at 222 S Kansas Avenue. The “222” which a lot refer it to today was purchased by the 711 Club via a contract for deed arrangement. In 2014, we refinanced and the title was put in the name of 711 Club Inc. This home has been ours since that time, making it the second longest tenured home in Olathe Group history, second only to Park St. For a few years, it was sold to a private buyer who held it for us while we sought a larger property, but when that deal didn’t go through as planned, the private buy sold it back to us in 2024.

We can look back now and take for granted what all the members before us did. They moved every two or so years. They scrambled to make ends meet and to pay bills. They struggled with fights and arguments but yet still prevailed. They did everything in their power to keep the Olathe Group around for the last 70+ years. We can be grateful and continue to live with the same spirit and grace they did. That no matter what the Olathe Group is our home. No matter where it goes, it will always remain going. To do our part to make sure this is around for the next 67 years and remain sober all while helping other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

Previous locations of the Olathe Group and Al-Anon prior to Seven-One-One:

• 1953-1961 - 200 E. Park on the 2nd floor of Matheny Electric

• 1961-1967 - 200 block of Cherry behind the Olathe Hotel

• 1967-1971 - 711 S. Kansas Ave. in a basement location

• 1971-1990 - 316 W. Park St.

• 1991-1993 - 816 S. Harrison

• 1994-1999 - 201 Loula St.

• 1999-2003 - 213 S. Kansas Ave.

• 2003 - Present - 222 S. Kansas Ave

Other neat facts about 222 S. Kansas Avenue and the Olathe Group:

• The lighted coffee pot sign has remained with the Olathe Group ever since the 711 S. Kansas location

• Man in the Mirror sign was Jack Bauer’s.

• The podium we use today was the original podium but has been added on to thru the years

• The AA Slogan Signs came out of Park St. as well did the wooden “No one gave me as much trouble as myself” sign.

• The two tables-Built around 2004, anything AA from big book pages, signs and coins were put in there by those people. More than a 100 people put something in there.