About The Mahjongg Art Space – American Mahjongg in Reading, MA
About The Mahjongg Gallery
The Mahjongg Gallery is more than a place to play American Mahjongg — it’s a welcoming destination in Reading, Massachusetts, where games, original art, and conversation come together. We draw players from across Greater Boston and the communities north of the city, and we’ve built the space to work for everyone: come for your first lesson or your five-hundredth game, and you’ll find lessons, organized games, open play, tournaments, social gatherings, and special events, all designed to build skills, spark friendships, and grow a genuinely welcoming community. An adjacent coffee shop makes it easy to settle in before or after a game.
The art on our walls isn’t decoration — every painting, sculpture, photograph, piece of pottery, and handcrafted item is for sale, made by talented local and regional artists. Browse the full collection anytime at Mahjongg Gallery Art.
Our founder, Jill Shuman, discovered Mahjongg at four years old, growing up in a multi-generational family where Tuesday was always “Mahjongg Day.” One of her clearest memories is watching her great-grandmother play the same weekly game with three close friends for more than fifteen years — women who shared very little English but built an entire friendship on the game’s common language. Jill didn’t become a regular player herself until much later in life, when she realized Mahjongg offered more than entertainment: it kept her mind sharp, built lasting friendships, and gave her a real sense of belonging. After retiring, she set out to give others that same experience and founded Mahjongg North of Boston in 2025.
As the community grew, so did the vision. Our move to this new location inspired a new name — The Mahjongg Gallery — reflecting everything visitors can now enjoy under one roof: playing Mahjongg, discovering original artwork, supporting local artists, and catching up with friends over coffee. We believe Mahjongg brings people together through learning, sportsmanship, creativity, and fellowship, and every visit here is a chance for that to happen for you, too.
☕ We’re grateful to share our space with Empower on Haven — the cafe that hosts us on Haven St. Their coffee and food menu is available for purchase, so come hungry and stay for a game.
Prefer to talk? Call (508) 709-9880.