Harbor Winds Mahjong and MJ Social opening on Long Island
Harbor Winds Mahjong in Northport opens this weekend. Credit: Harbor Winds Mahjong/Julian Bracero
A mah-jongg miniboom is poised to continue on Long Island as two clubs prepare to open this month.
Harbor Winds Mahjong, at 101 Main St. in Northport, has scheduled its grand opening Sept. 5 while MJ Social, at 203 Long Beach Rd. in Island Park, gets ready to open Sept. 23.
In a region where mah-jongg players tend to gather at restaurants, cafes or even retail stores, the two dedicated clubs may help fill a void. Both plan to offer open play, leagues and classes along with a retail component. And both are touting themselves as social hubs where customers can enjoy free snacks, coffee, tea and other beverages while engaging in a little friendly competition.
"I wanted something community-based," attorney Tara Ryan says of her decision to open Harbor Winds. "You can’t be on your phone while you’re playing mah-jongg. It’s social."
Mah-jongg, sometimes spelled mahjong, is a tile-based game that originated in 19th-century China. Much like rummy, gameplay usually involves four people and consists of arranging one’s tiles in matching or ascending groups.
Harbor Winds Mahjong in Northport offers a community-focused space with custom tiles, retail options and a coastal-themed decor. Credit: Harbor Winds Mahjong/ Julian Bracero
The game spread throughout American suburbs during the postwar years, particularly among Jewish women who were often denied entry to other social clubs, says MJ Social owner Ellen Zwalsky.
Today, the National Mah Jongg League claims more than 350,000 members and interest seems to be growing. In a Yelp 2026 Trend Tracker report, data shows a 4,467% surge in internet users searching "Mahjong clubs" and an 819% increase in searches for "Mahjong lessons."
"I take that idea and hopefully create a community for everybody in my store," Zwalsky says.
The two clubs will be serving residents on opposite shores of Long Island. The North Shore's Harbor Winds will be decorated in blue-and-white coastal colors, Ryan says, and will soon boast its own custom-designed tiles with a nautical theme. The club will feature a back room for game play and a front retail space that will sell T-shirts, tote bags and mah-jongg sets that might run as high as $500.
"It’s like when you buy your golf clubs, they’re expensive," Ryan says. "And you want this to be nice and last a long time, too. It’s an investment."
MJ Social will open later this month in Island Park. Credit: MJ Social
The South Shore's MJ Social will aim for a "warm and inviting" atmosphere, Zwalsky says, with three playing rooms and at least one automatic table — an invention that can shuffle the tiles and reassemble them into neat rows for each player. The club will also have a retail room that sells mah-jongg sets and accessories.
Both club owners say they plan to charge $20 admission per person, though membership fees have yet to be determined.
"I’ve played in diners, I’ve played in a Panera, and it’s awkward," Zwalsky says. "People are eating, and you feel like you’re taking up the restaurant’s space. Wouldn’t it be great if we have a place to go?"
