Celebrating One Year of Mahj House Austin!

One year ago, we set up our first tables with a simple hunch: that Austin was ready for a new kind of gathering place. Somewhere that felt like a friend's beautifully designed living room, with better snacks and a much faster shuffler. A place where the hardest part of learning mahjong, finding three other people to play with, was already handled for you.

A year of tiles, laughter, first wins and new friendships later, we are throwing ourselves a birthday party. And the gift is for you.

On Wednesday, November 11, Open Play is $1. Grab a seat, play on tiles from some of our favorite makers, and enter to win prizes from brands who are celebrating right alongside us.

The Day at a Glance

10 AM – 12 PM	$1 Open Play
3 – 5 PM	$1 Open Play
All day	Giveaways and raffle prizes from our partner brands

One dollar, two hours, a seat at a table, and a room full of people who are glad you came.

Open Play: For Players Who Know the Game

Open Play is come-as-you-are mahjong for people who already know how to play. There is no lesson and no instruction, just two relaxed hours at a table with fellow players. If you have finished Beginner Bootcamp or play regularly with friends, this seat is yours.

For the party, you'll play on sets from Bespoke Mahjong, Bam Bird, My Fair Mahjong, The Mahjong House and more. Automatic shuffling tables, racks, mats, snacks and drinks are all provided. Just bring yourself.

New to Mahjong? Pull Up a Chair.

If you have been watching your friends disappear into mahjong and wondering whether you missed your chance, you didn't. You're welcome to pull up a chair beside a friend, watch a few hands and soak up the room. It's a great way to see the game in action and meet the people who play here.

Just know that Open Play isn't a lesson, so our team won't be teaching at the tables. When you're ready to play yourself, Beginner Bootcamp is built for people with zero experience, and you go home with your own official NMJL card.

Regulars, this is your cue. Bring the friend who keeps saying "I really need to learn," let them watch you play, then send them our way.

The Prize Table

We asked some of the brands we admire most to help us celebrate, and they showed up in a big way. Collect raffle tickets in-studio now through Friday, November 13.

For your mahjong table

• Anders Ruff · a mahjong mat
• Mahjong Row & Co. · a mat and tiles
• Bespoke Mahjong · a rack back, a beaded pouch and shufflers
• Amore Mahj · mahjong racks
• Canvas Style · mahjong-inspired jewelry and keychains

For a little self-care

• Refine Aesthetics · two treatment packages, each an $800 value: a Moxi laser for full face and neck, or 20 units of Botox plus a syringe of SkinVive
• Skin Pharm · skincare
• Mad Hippie · a Glow Up kit
• Vio2 · mouth tape

For treats, crafts and your home

• Vista Home Management · three months off annual home management service, a $1,200 value
• Christa Peyton Art · an original canvas, a print and notecards
• Slow North · two tickets to a candle-making workshop
• SusieCakes · a gift card for a dozen cupcakes
• Hibiscus Needlepoint · needlepoint

…and more brands we love.

Please show these brands some love. Every one of them chose to celebrate a small local studio, and that means a lot to us.

Why We Gather

When we opened Mahj House, we knew we were building more than a place to play a game. Mahjong has always been about the table: the conversation between hands, the inside jokes, the friend who never wins and never stops trying. This year, we watched coworkers become tablemates, newcomers to Austin find their people, and first-timers call their first mahjong with the whole room cheering.

That is what we are celebrating on November 11. Not just a year in business, but a year of people choosing to put their phones down and sit across from each other.

Here's to year one, and to every game still ahead.

No purchase necessary. Raffle tickets are collected in-studio only.