# Mahjong nights break down barriers in Charlotte

> A local host is making the century-old tile game accessible to everyone, not just country club members.
- Title: Mahjong nights break down barriers in Charlotte | Shortify
- Summary: A local host is making the century-old tile game accessible to everyone, not just country club members. Mahjong is shedding its exclusive image as new hosts…
- Keywords: mahjong, charlotte, allison merriman, summit coffee, millennials, game nights, community building, cognitive health, social connection, aging well, news, local
- Source: Valleynewslive — https://valleynewslive.com/2026/09/16/mahjong-nights-bring-new-players-together
- Published: 2026-09-16T12:57:35.861+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: mahjong, charlotte, allison merriman, summit coffee, millennials, game nights, community building, cognitive health, social connection, aging well, news, local
## Breaking mahjong's country club image
Allison Merriman hosts mahjong nights at Summit Coffee in Charlotte. She's working to shed the game's exclusive reputation.

> Mahjong definitely has this stigma of being, yeah, like a country club game, something that only a small group of people really partake in.
## Two years of lessons and events
For two years, Merriman has taught private lessons and hosted events. The game hooks competitive players once they learn it.

> If you're a gamer and you are somebody who likes games and you like that competitive nature, once you learn mahjong, it tends to just get its teeth into you.
## Millennials discover mahjong during COVID
The Chinese tile game arrived in the U.S. in the 1920s. Millennials like Merriman found it during pandemic isolation.

> Millennials, I think, loved going out, and then during COVID, we all stayed home a lot and we were very isolated, and we lost a lot.
## Brain benefits backed by research
The National Institutes of Health reports mahjong enhances cognitive abilities and short-term memory.

> And that's just like a nice little added bonus to it being a fun, good time.
## Monthly events in different neighborhoods
Merriman hosts events monthly across Charlotte neighborhoods. She wants to reach people who thought mahjong wasn't for them.

> Part of why I do these events out in different neighborhoods is I'm sort of hoping to latch onto some people that maybe felt like mahjong wasn't for them.
## Finding teachers in your community
Aging coach Katherine Ambrose believes many communities have mahjong teachers. Finding them can lead to new friendships.

> I suspect in a lot of communities there's people like her that are teaching.
## Key takeaway

Mahjong is shedding its exclusive image as new hosts create welcoming spaces for players of all backgrounds to learn and connect.