Described by one journalist as “the pickle ball of 2026,” Mah-jongg, the 19th century Chinese strategy game involving decorated tiles, has captivated a new generation of players.
In January, the first dedicated mah-jongg parlor in the New Orleans metro area opened in an office building just off West End Boulevard on Veterans Memorial Boulevard. Fleur de Mahj offers not only a centralized place for mah-jongg players to gather and compete, but classes, lessons, merch and sets for purchase.
The team behind Fleur de Mahj — Sheila Moragas, Carrie Pailet and Marcy Gingles — bring enthusiasm for the game, as well as a combination of five decades of playing and 30 years teaching the ins and outs of competition.
Professionally, Moragas and Pailet practice law at LaFleur & Laborde, while Gingles is retired from a 40-year teaching career. What brings them together with this latest endeavor is a shared love of the game of mah-jongg and the opportunity to bring it to a new generation.
“We began as a pop-up after-hours in our unused office space,” explained Pailet. “Players kept remarking that they would love a dedicated space to meet other players and hone their playing skills. It seemed like a natural evolution to take our pop-up to the next level by creating a comfortable and cozy space for players to learn the game, improve their skills and meet other players.”
While mah-jongg is centuries years old and may in the past have conjured images of retirees or matriarchs gossiping over a round or two, the new version of mah-jongg has a younger, fresher look and feel. This is all thanks to the influence (and influencers) of social media, which has fired up a new following of Gen-Z players. Articles on the resurgence of the game have recently appeared in national magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, the Washington Post and Forbes Magazine.
Mah-jongg parties, accessories such as jewelry and cocktail napkins, and carefully designed sets can be found all over Instagram and TikTok. In April 2025, an article on Forbes.com noted that the National Mah Jongg League was reporting over 350,000 members, and high-end gaming sets were being sold by luxury retailers from Ralph Lauren to designer boutiques.
“As to why it’s so popular right now, partly that has to do to the ever-new designer sets, most designed and sold by female-owned businesses, that are being produced at an all-time high,” noted Moragas. “On one level, mah-jongg is popular because it is a community of people looking for something fun to do that keeps them on their toes and connected to others.
Could it be the kitsch factor? Certainly, but the legacy of the game can’t be denied, as it fosters a sense of camaraderie and community in players of all backgrounds.
“While learning the game is challenging, once you learn it, you can sit down at a table and meet three new friends instantly, all while exercising your brain,” she added. “Somehow, when you sit at the mah-jongg table, listening to the clacking of the tiles and searching for a pattern that will form a hand, something larger than the game blooms. Your brain gets ‘reset’ from all the stress and worries of day-to-day life. It is that reset that has people returning, game after game.”
Fleur de Mahj is ready to guide local players into the trend, offering a judgment-free zone for learning and a welcoming community to play with along the way.
The learning curve for mah-jongg is not easy, according to Moragas, which is why having a dedicated space with instructors can be so essential in getting started.
“Mah-jongg has its own vocabulary, which is the first stumbling block for many players,” she said. “American mah-jongg has two phases to the game, and each has special rules. We find it takes around eight hours if you have a dedicated teacher at your table.”
While getting started is challenging (in a good way), the key to success is repetition.
“Play. Play. Play,” Pailet said. “The more you play, the more familiar you get with the rules and the better you get at the game. The more you play, the more fun you have.”
Fleur de Mahj offers a full range of mah-jongg instruction, from in-person American mah-jongg play sessions and guided events to competitive leagues and private classes.
“Our ‘Introduction to American Mah Jongg’ class is limited to eight students so that Sheila and Carrie can each be present at two tables and give solid attention to each player. Other classes are limited only by our own space, which seats 32,” Pailet said.
Prices for classes vary based on the level of instruction and the number of people.
“For example, our ‘Introduction to Mah Jongg’ class, when limited to eight people, is $75 per person,” said Pailet. For “private parties with more than eight people who want to learn how to play, the cost is $60 per person. Our ‘Guided Play’ classes are $50 per person. We also have group and private retreats that are offered over a weekend and can cost between $325-$375, and we hold events, like open-play nights, where the cost is $15 per person.”
Fleur de Mahj also encourages participation in competition both locally and nationally.
“We are currently hosting the NOLA Scramble League as well as a Fleur de Mahj Spring League, both of which are nine-week leagues of play with prizes for top scorers,” Moragas said.
In addition to instruction and game play, the team has a robust in-store shop, with mah-jongg gaming pieces — which can range in price from $65 for a mat to $299 for a full set — as well as accessories such as home décor, cocktail napkins, jewelry, clothing items and more, all inspired by tile designs.
“We have sets that appeal to every player ranging from strictly traditional sets to the popular designer ones,” noted Pailet, who added that, “All players are required to bring is their love of the game and their own National Mah Jongg League card,” she said.
The response to Fleur de Mahj has been encouraging to the team, who plans to continue to grow with the input of local players and competitions.
“We have received an overwhelmingly positive and warm reception within the mah-jongg community,” said Pailet. “We have community groups coming to our open-play nights because no one has to go through the motions of hosting week to week. We have new players who have made friends and look forward to sitting at our tables for a few hours each week. We have players who are excited to get out of the house and meet up with some old friends and make some new ones without having to bring anything but a card with them.”
Fleur de Mahj
110 Veterans Blvd.
504-401-5890
fleurdemaj.com
@fleurdemajnola
