Mahjong studio coming to East Boulevard this spring
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Heron House Mahjong, a new mahjong studio and boutique, will open this spring near Freedom Park.
Why it matters: Three Charlotte entrepreneurs are turning a demand for places to play the centuries-old Chinese strategy game into a local business.
The latest: The 3,000-square-foot home was built in 1925 and is currently in the buildout phase. Heron House Mahjong owners expect to open by late spring.
What to expect: The new mahjong studio will include 11 tables to start, each of which seats four players. Each room will include three to five tables. The hope is to create an intimate feel.
- Visitors will be able to order wine, coffee, tea, and snacks.
- The boutique will include everything from mahjong sets to gifts. The goal is to create a destination not only where people want to play, but also somewhere they want to shop. Several members of the Heron House Mahjong team have a background in retail.
- The studio will offer memberships and drop-in options. A drop-in will cost $25. There will be a limited number of founding memberships for $99. After that, memberships will be offered at tiers ranging from $149-$179 per month. You'll be able to book everything on their website once it's completed.
Stop by: 1819 East Blvd.
The big picture: In a largely digital world where meaningful, face-to-face connections can feel rare, the founders hope to bring people together over a shared love of mahjong.
- "People are really hungry for [social connection] right now, because the world can be a lonely, digital place," co-founder Charolette Obringer tells Axios.
Go deeper: Charlotte homes are making room for mahjong