Where to buy a mahjong set

Check out this MAP!

For many of us, inheriting a mahjong set from a family member is a significant moment that represents a family tradition being passed down to the next generation to carry forth. Maybe a loved one passed away, and it’s something of theirs you’re given to remember them by, to keep their memory alive.

For others, there are mahjong sets lying around gathering dust in your family’s cupboard or tucked away in the garage, that no one in your family has touched in years. By all means, you should bring it home with you one day and give it a new life with your own friends and social circle. No one will even miss it…

Sometimes a mahjong set finds you! You happen by one at a garage sale, or see one listed on Craigslist/FB Marketplace when searching for furniture, or it gets recommended to you on eBay based on your recent search history. I think due to the mere heft of a mahjong set, it’s not a natural thing to throw away (like maybe a deck of cards might be) — so they’re relatively easy to find in second-hand markets if you’re willing to search. Just make sure the set has all of the tiles!

But if none of these apply to you, and you want to buy a NEW set, I recommend visiting your local Chinatown and making an afternoon activity out of it. I’ve started a MAP HERE listing stores I’ve visited, or have heard on good word to sell mahjong sets. I’ll continue to maintain and add markers to this map over the coming years. If you’d like to make a suggestion, please email me at projectmahjong@gmail.com.

Lastly, of course there are online retailers that sell sets, but I encourage you to go out into your community and support a small business, which are typically independent and often family-run. Happy hunting!