Old Town Mahjong Club Builds Community One Tile at a Time
Heather Johanson and Katherine May Schwartz are building connection, one tile at a time.
Alexandria, VA – For Heather Johanson, it began with a class at Boxwood in Old Town — and a feeling she had not experienced in a long time.
“I instantly clicked with the people at my table,” she said. “It had been a long time since I had felt that strong pull of connection.”
That class also brought Johanson together with Katherine May Schwartz. The two Old Town residents wanted to keep playing American Mahjong, but they soon discovered there was no easy way to find a regular game nearby. So they created one.
Their Old Town Mahjong Club now welcomes experienced players, beginners and curious neighbors to free open-play gatherings designed around a simple idea: no one should need a set of tiles, a foursome or an established group of friends to have a seat at the table.
“Our goal is to build community and make Old Town feel like Cheers, where everyone knows your name,” Johanson said.
The club grew from a somewhat chaotic WhatsApp chat among friends, then took off after the founders posted on Facebook and Instagram. For Johanson and Schwartz, both the game and the social connection matter — but the people come first.
Photo: Old Town Mahjong Club.
“It can be hard to meet people and make friends,” Johanson said. “We wanted to change that.”
American Mahjong is having a broad cultural moment, with colorful tile sets, racks and mats filling social media feeds. But the game can also seem intimidating to newcomers, especially its annual National Mah Jongg League card, which lists the winning hands.
Schwartz said that learning through a 101 class made the game far less mysterious than trying to jump into a game with friends. Johanson points out that the annual card gives everyone a fresh start each spring.
Photo: Ashley Greer.
“When the new card comes out, the person who has been playing for 30 years and the person who has been playing for one year are both learning it for the first time,” she said.
The club’s approach is deliberately low-pressure. Open play is free, and players do not need to own tiles; members bring enough sets to share. Individuals are encouraged to come on their own, and even established foursomes are invited to split up occasionally to meet new people.
For someone who is shy about walking into a room full of strangers, that can sound daunting. Johanson understands.
“As an introvert, I was initially wary of splitting up tables or not sitting with someone I already knew,” she said. “However, I have grown to love it. Each time, I get to meet someone new in a setting that feels safe.”
Photo: Old Town Mahjong Club.
The founders ask those who want to join gameplay to first take a Mahjong 101 class, but anyone is welcome to watch an open-play session. They are also developing beginner and next-step classes, along with guided play for people who know the basics but want help gaining confidence.
Above all, the club is meant to be welcoming — whether someone arrives in bike shorts, a favorite dress or with a messy bun and no idea where the jokers are.
“Your neighborhood table is waiting,” the founders said.
For information on open play and upcoming lessons, follow @oldtownmahjongclub on Instagram or visit oldtownmahjong.com.
