'A Place To Connect': Vienna Will Soon Have A New Social Club For This Timeless Game

VIENNA, VA – Mahjong players will soon have their own dedicated space in Vienna.

The Bamboo Room promises to be a mahjong social club for players of all ages and skill levels, with leagues, open play, guided sessions, beginner lessons and monthly social events.

Owner Jennifer Groves is aiming to open in August.

Groves, a medical professional, has been providing mahjong lessons and events through her small business, Mama Mahj, for the past year.

The game brings her joy, she says.

“I find so much joy watching the connections that happen at the table,” she told Patch Friday. “You'll have four strangers that have nothing in common that you're aware of, but by the end of the two and a half hours, they are literally swapping numbers, they're laughing together, because there's something about this game that involves a level of humility and ability to learn together.” That learning curve generates laughter and encouragement, and that's what fosters these connections, Groves said.

There was so much interest in mahjong in the community that Groves ran out of venues for gameplay. That’s what led to the idea of the Bamboo Room.

The response so far has been really positive, she says. “Everybody just wants a place to connect, and I love that. So, I think that's what it's going to be.”

The club's schedule is still in development, and Groves encourages anyone who might be interested to drop by the Bamboo Room’s Instagram page. She’s taking surveys on when people would like to play – “I’m really trying to create the schedule around what people want,” she says.

Right now, she’s envisioning play starting around 10 a.m., with league play in the evenings.

Groves teaches American mahjong, but she’s open to players of other types of the game coming to the space to play and share. “I don't really care what people play, I just think it is about coming together. … I love the idea of having different styles of play. It keeps things interesting.”

Mahjong is having a moment, but it’s not the first time the game has seen a wave of popularity. There are a number of factors driving its current resurgence, but fundamentally, Groves says, after the Covid-19 pandemic, people are longing for ways to get together, and games provide the opportunity for conversation, plus a common purpose.

“It just automatically breaks down some barriers,” she says. “You really have to pay attention, and you have to be present in the moment.”

Keep an eye on the new space at 101 Church Street SW and watch for updates on the Bamboo Room's website or social media pages.