Mah Jongg Is the Next Pickleball: How a Scottsdale Boutique Is Meeting a 4,467 Percent Surge in Demand
Scottsdale, United States – July 1, 2026 / The Charleston Club /
Mah Jongg has crossed into mainstream culture. Yelp named the tile game a top trend of 2026, citing a 4,467 percent year-over-year jump in searches for Mah Jongg clubs and a 819 percent surge in searches for lessons. The International Council of Shopping Centers ran a feature this spring asking whether the game is the next pickleball. The Charleston Club, a Scottsdale-based designer Mah Jongg boutique, has watched the surge land directly in its shipping queue.
Owner Dolores Parrish founded the boutique in Scottsdale, Arizona, ships nationwide from her home-based operation, and has been on the inside of the trend long enough to see what is actually driving it. She points to three forces: an organic generational handoff among women in their 40s, 50s and 60s, a hosting-and-table-setting culture that has rewarded social game nights, and category visibility from public figures including Julia Roberts and Meghan Markle.
For many new players, Mah Jongg quickly evolves from an occasional social activity into a weekly tradition. As groups become a regular part of their routine, players often begin upgrading their tiles and accessories to reflect their growing enthusiasm for the game.
The data backs up Parrish’s read of the market. Year-over-year Mah Jongg events are up roughly 179 percent according to local reporting from Omaha to Miami. The global Mah Jongg market is projected to grow from 1.9 billion dollars in 2024 to 3 billion dollars by 2035 at a 4.4 percent compound annual growth rate. The American Mah Jongg Association reports women outnumber men in active membership by roughly 19 to 1.
For The Charleston Club, the surge has translated into a category-by-category sales pattern Parrish can describe with precision. Designer 36MM Sparkle Tile sets in Red Sparkle, Pink Sparkle, Silver Sparkle, Chelsea Green and Violet Mosaic colorways have become her highest-velocity SKUs. The boutique’s wooden racks with magnetic pushers and acrylic racks in seven colors are following close behind. The annual National Mah Jongg League card, sold by Parrish as part of complete starter bundles, has sold out three times since January.
“The hardest part of the demand surge has not been finding customers,” Parrish said. “It has been keeping the right colorways in stock. When a tournament organizer in Florida orders eight Red Sparkle sets for a charity event, I have to make sure the women in Boston and San Diego can still buy theirs the same week.”
Parrish has answered the operations challenge by tightening her supplier relationships and front-loading inventory ahead of the fall club season, when most local groups recharter their weekly play schedule. She also notes a shift in who is buying. Where the typical customer two years ago was already an active player upgrading her equipment, today roughly half of new orders come from women buying their first complete set.
“That is the trend behind the trend,” Parrish said. “We are not just selling to existing players anymore. We are equipping the next wave of women who are about to discover what their mothers and grandmothers always knew about this game.”
The Charleston Club ships nationwide and to Canada. The full catalog, including complete starter sets, designer 36MM Sparkle Tile colorways, wooden and acrylic racks, designer bags and the annual National Mah Jongg League card, is available now. The Charleston Club is the destination Parrish has built for women who treat Mah Jongg as the weekly ritual it has become.
About The Charleston Club: The Charleston Club is a Scottsdale, Arizona based ecommerce boutique specializing in designer American Mah Jongg sets, accessories and the annual National Mah Jongg League card. Founded by Dolores Parrish and named for the Charleston pass that opens every American Mah Jongg game, the boutique ships curated 36MM tile sets, wooden and acrylic racks, designer bags and tournament-ready accessories across the United States and to Canada. Each product in the catalog is hand-selected by Parrish for quality, finish and play-readiness.
Media Contact: Dolores Parrish, Owner. The Charleston Club, Scottsdale, AZ. Email: info@thecharlestonclubaz.com.. . Phone: 480-450-5822. Website: thecharlestonclubaz.com.
Contact Information:
The Charleston Club
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
United States
Dolores Parrish
+1-602-851-1634
https://thecharlestonclubaz.com
