At the Table
A family opens the Jackson metro's first dedicated mahjong room in Ridgeland
Magnolia Mahjong House runs nine tables and teaches beginners twice a week, and about 200 people came through its soft opening.
The Magnolia Tribune reported on July 8, 2026 that Larry Wellington, his wife Jessica and his mother Tammy opened Magnolia Mahjong House at 588 Century Place in Ridgeland, Mississippi, next door to the family's longtime shoe store. The paper describes it as the first dedicated mahjong space in the Jackson metro area.
Per that report, the room holds nine playing tables including one automatic table, and the week runs beginner classes on Wednesdays and Fridays alongside open play. Players can reserve a full table, book a single seat, or walk in. The family also offers private rentals for parties, corporate events and charity functions, plus tournaments and strategy sessions with guest instructors.
The Tribune reports that roughly 200 people came through during the soft opening to tour the space and meet the family. The piece names the card itself as the thing newcomers find hardest, which is the same first hurdle every American mah jongg teacher describes.
OOTT is not affiliated with the venue and does not sell tile sets. It is recorded here because a permanent address with a beginner night twice a week is the shape this hobby keeps taking, and a room in Ridgeland is a long way from the coasts where most of this coverage lands.