One evening at DUO Houston, a cozy coffee and wellness spot in River Oaks, the air fills with a rhythmic clatter, a sound like a hundred tiny dominoes shuffling and resettling.
At a table, a colorful array of intricately designed tiles, featuring circles, bamboo sticks and Chinese characters, is meticulously arranged in neat rows. Laughter and conversation weave through the room as new players, with focused expressions, study their hands and consult a guide card. They are playing a game of Mahjong.
This experience is at the heart of Mocha Mahj, a business founded by three friends, Ashley Bailey, Veronica Gordon Murphy and Megan “Dani” Craigman. They created this company with a simple desire to build a welcoming, inclusive and joyful space for a game often perceived as exclusive.
Before its modern resurgence, Mahjong was a game with a storied past. It originated in China in the mid-19th century, a complex tile-based game of skill, strategy and luck. The name “Mahjong” itself, which means “sparrow,” is said to come from the chattering sound the tiles make when they are shuffled.
Traditional sets feature beautiful engravings of bamboo, circles and Chinese characters. The game arrived in the United States in the 1920s and quickly became popular. American versions of the game, like the one played by Mocha Mahj, have distinct rules and scoring systems from their traditional Chinese counterparts. In the U.S., the game’s popularity was significantly shaped by different communities, including American military families and most notably, the Jewish community, which standardized the “American Mahjong” rules.
“It’s a tile game similar to Dominoes that is intricate and requires matching suits with a new card each year,” Craigman says. “The initial lesson takes 90 minutes, but after getting started, it takes 15-20 minutes. The speed depends on experience.”
The new face of a timeless game
The trio’s journey began on the north side of Houston in March, sparked by an impromptu neighborhood lesson Bailey attended. “I wanted to do it with my friends,” she says, explaining that she intentionally invited friends who lived close by to make it easy for them to get together. This focus on intentional community laid the groundwork for Mocha Mahj.
After their first lesson, the three friends were hooked. “It’s one of those things you must have a lesson for,” Bailey says. They started playing at least once or twice a week to ensure they wouldn’t forget. “I’ll buy the set if you guys promise you’ll play with me,” Bailey told her friends. They did and a week later, they were playing regularly.
The Mocha Mahj approach is all about making the game accessible and stress-free.
“Mocha Mahj is not for us, by us, but rather by us for everyone. We want anyone, regardless of their background, to feel comfortable learning a new skill from people
Megan “Dani” Craigman
who look like us.”
“We’ve taken our time to teach all ages and backgrounds so that we could master easy ways to make this game understandable,” Murphy says. “You don’t want to feel like you don’t get it.” Their classes are designed to be a comfortable, judgment-free zone where mistakes are welcome.
This focus on creating a comfortable environment is central to Mocha Mahj’s mission and the name represents them as Black women.
“The ‘Mocha’ is about people of all shades of mocha coming to the table,” Craigman says. “Mocha Mahj is not for us, by us, but rather by us for everyone. We want anyone, regardless of their background, to feel comfortable learning a new skill from people who look like us.”
And the demand is there. Mahjong is experiencing a massive resurgence across the country. According to data from Eventbrite, searches for “Mahjong events” increased by a staggering 867% in Houston between 2023 and 2024. New and old players drive this growth, as people seek engaging social hobbies that are an alternative to simply going out for dinner.
The global market for mahjong-related products, such as online platforms and automatic tables, is also on the rise, with some segments projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.4% to 10.2% from 2023 to 2032.
The trio has found a creative outlet that allows them to carve out time for themselves outside their roles as wives and mothers. They’ve even taught their husbands and kids to play, turning it into a multigenerational family activity. The joy they get from their hobby is infectious.
“We love pickleball and golf,” Craigman says. But we’re gonna play Mahjong for now.”
The co-founders have also discovered the strength of their partnership. They’ve learned to lean on each other’s unique skills, from Bailey handling content and social media to Murphy managing operations and Craigman overseeing the website and merchandise. This division of labor, combined with mutual respect, has allowed them not only to build a business but also to strengthen their friendship. It’s a powerful model for women supporting women.
Mocha Mahj will pop up in multiple locations throughout the city this fall, including private events. They also travel if you are based in another state.For more information, visit: MochaMahj.com.
