Denver’s Mahj Squad fuels mahjong’s modern revival

After learning mahjong together, Shaw Morris and Kelly Warren quickly fell in love with the game. What began as sharing their newfound passion with friends soon grew into something much bigger, and Mahj Squad was born. Today, Mahj Squad offers lessons and events, spreading their love of mahjong throughout Colorado and beyond.

Maybe it’s the beautiful tiles, or simply the joy of gathering with friends to learn something new. What began as a small passion project has grown rapidly: Mahj Squad now has a team of 10 women who teach and host between 60 and 75 events each month across Colorado. From birthday parties and private gatherings to corporate networking events and beyond, Mahj Squad offers a full-service experience.

“We come to our clients and bring everything needed to play. If you’re hosting, all you need to do is invite your friends over. We bring the sets, and everyone gets to keep our Mahjong 101 guidebook. We can even bring tables and chairs if needed,” Morris said. Mahj Squad is known for their impeccable eye for detail; every event is thoughtfully styled, and guests have commented on how beautiful it all looks.

The lesson lasts about two hours and typically includes two games, attracting a mix of beginners and skilled players.

“A lot of times, these people have zero experience, and they’re coming to us to teach them the game. And you really do have to be taught the game. It’s not something you could really just read the instructions and figure it out because there’s a lot of rules and strategy,” Warren said.

As teachers, Morris and Warren approach the game in a modern way: they simplify learning and make it more accessible and engaging, with an upgrade that adds personalized tiles and accessories, an upgrade from the original game.

If you don’t want to host a lesson, you can sign up individually for one of their local lessons. They show up monthly to Chicken Salad Chick, The Den and Evan’s School.

For those who know how to play, Mahj Squad offers Mahj Squad Social Club, a league where players can compete, meet new people, and, most importantly, socialize. Their social club is currently held at One Fold in Greenwood Village and North County in Lowry.

Mahjong lessons are often parties. Instead of just gathering for wine, mahjong nights offer something more engaging. Guests aren’t just socializing; they’re playing, learning and leaving with the feeling that they’ve done something genuinely fun.

The networking potential of mahjong events is hard to overstate. Mahj Squad regularly partners with local businesses to host team-building and social gatherings that bring people together in a fun, engaging way.

“We love partnering with local businesses, and it’s a win-win because we bring customers into their store or restaurant, and they’ll shop or order food or drinks, and it’s really fun for everyone,” Morris said.

Starting this spring, Mahj Squad is hosting mahjong retreats at the Broadmoor’s Cloud Camp in Colorado Springs. The first “Camp Mahj” experience sold out quickly, and Mahj Squad and The Broadmoor added two more retreats to meet demand.

Currently, the company has 10 additional people to run events in Minneapolis, Michigan, and Greenwich, CT, and is in talks to open mahjong chapters in other cities.

Mahj Squad works with The Mahjong Line, and the stunning tiles and accessories were part of what made them fall in love with the game. Follow along on Instagram at @mahjsquad or visit www.mahjsquad.com to shop and learn more.

“Mahjong is a multi-generational game. So it’s really fun. We teach grandparents with their grandkids, and it really is for everybody,” Morris said.