The Surge
A mahjong boom takes hold in Charlotte
Local coverage charts a fast-growing American mahjong scene in Charlotte, with a new studio opening near Freedom Park.
American mahjong has found a foothold in Charlotte, where local outlets are charting a fast-growing scene. The Charlotte Ledger documents the trend in a piece titled 'Behind Charlotte's Mahjong Boom.'
Axios Charlotte reports that a new studio, Heron House, has opened near Freedom Park, adding a dedicated room to a city that already supports established teachers. Queen City Mahjong, founded in late 2021 by Jill Graham, runs boot camps that have included sessions with the Junior League of Charlotte.
By the club-listing counts cited in the coverage, Charlotte ranks second among American cities by number of publicly listed mahjong clubs, behind only Houston. The growth mirrors a national pattern of new studios and classes opening to meet rising demand.