Andrew Lee did not set out to build a movement.

He just did not want to drive an hour and a half to play mahjong.

A few months later, his Orange County mahjong group had grown from a brand-new social media page into weekly events drawing around 100 people, collaborations with the Irvine Public Library, and a community large enough that venue capacity had become a real problem. Export text – mahjongcleanedpod…

The wildest part?

They did it without paid advertising.

From Zero to 100 People in Three Events

OC Mahjong technically began in March 2026.

Andrew and his team created the social media page, secured the account names, and posted their first event only a few days before it happened.

They expected mostly friends.

Instead, around 40 people showed up.

The second event brought roughly 70.

By the third, attendance had climbed past 100. Export text – mahjongcleanedpod…

That kind of growth usually comes with a big marketing budget.

This did not.

Andrew says the demand was already there.

Orange County had been underserved compared with areas of Los Angeles, where mahjong communities were already more established. OC Mahjong simply gave people somewhere local to go.

Mahjong Is Having a Cultural Resurgence

For many Asian Americans, mahjong has traditionally been associated with older relatives.

Andrew remembers the same stereotype: aunties playing around the table, not necessarily something young people considered trendy.

That is changing.

He sees a broader resurgence of pride in Asian identity, and mahjong has become part of that shift.

Cultural practices that younger generations may once have viewed as old-fashioned are being reclaimed as something worth celebrating.

As Asian culture has become more visible in entertainment and mainstream American culture, Andrew believes younger people have become more comfortable embracing traditions tied to that identity. Export text – mahjongcleanedpod…

But this is not just an Asian-American trend.

OC Mahjong’s events are diverse.

Andrew estimates that roughly 60% of attendees are Asian, while the rest include white, Hispanic, Black, and other players.

That is part of what makes the current moment interesting.

Mahjong is moving from something culturally specific toward something increasingly mainstream. Export text – mahjongcleanedpod…

The New Pickleball?

Andrew compares what is happening with mahjong now to what happened with pickleball several years ago.

At first, pickleball belonged to a relatively specific crowd.

Then suddenly everyone knew someone who played.

Courts appeared everywhere.

Leagues formed.

Brands followed.

The same kind of momentum may now be happening with mahjong.

People see friends playing.

They get curious.

They learn.

Then they invite more friends.

The cycle continues.

Andrew also compares it to boba: something once concentrated within Asian communities that gradually became part of mainstream American culture. Export text – mahjongcleanedpod…

Why Mahjong Works So Well Socially

Mahjong is not just intellectually interesting.

It gives people a reason to sit together.

That may be its biggest advantage.

Andrew works full-time in mental health as a program director, and he sees the social side of mahjong as especially valuable.

The game requires concentration, pattern recognition, strategy, and problem-solving.

But it also requires people.

Four people sit around a table for extended periods.

They talk.

They compete.

They help each other learn.

They laugh.

And when conversation gets quiet, the game fills the silence.

That creates a very different experience from networking events where everyone feels pressure to keep talking.

Andrew describes strong social support as one of the most important protective factors for mental health, and mahjong naturally creates opportunities for people to build those connections. Export text – mahjongcleanedpod…

A Third Place People Actually Want to Return To

Sociologists sometimes talk about a “third place.”

Home is one place.

Work is another.

The third place is where people go simply to belong.

For some people, that is a gym.

For others, a church, coffee shop, sports league, or hobby group.

Mahjong can become that place too.

People can spend hours together without needing a formal agenda.

Andrew has even brought mahjong into his mental-health work, where people with disabilities or mental-health challenges can use the game for structure, stimulation, and social interaction. Export text – mahjongcleanedpod…

That same need exists in the broader population.

Adults want friends.

They want recurring communities.

They want somewhere they can show up and know people will recognize them.

OC Mahjong seems to be filling that gap.

The Secret Is Not Just Getting People There

One of the most interesting parts of Andrew’s approach is what happens after someone walks through the door.

Large gatherings can be intimidating.

A person may technically attend an event and still spend the whole night standing alone.

Andrew and his team try to prevent that.

When someone arrives, co-hosts ask about their skill level.

Then they walk that person directly to a table and introduce them.

Andrew describes it almost as intentionally forcing social connection—in a good way.

People are shy.

They hide.

So the organizers remove the awkward first step.

That small act matters.

People tell Andrew that they met someone at a table, exchanged social media, became friends, and then came back again. Export text – mahjongcleanedpod…

That is community building.

Not simply gathering bodies in a room.

Zero Dollars in Advertising

Despite the rapid growth, Andrew says OC Mahjong has not spent money on paid advertising.

The group posts consistently on social media and uses AI tools to help create flyers and graphics.

But the biggest driver has been word of mouth.

Around 60% to 70% of attendees are regulars.

Those regulars bring new people.

Some of those new people become regulars too.

Then they bring someone else. Export text – mahjongcleanedpod…

That is the kind of marketing every business wants:

People enjoying something enough to recruit the next customer for you.

Build Something People Want to Belong To

Andrew did not have a professional background in event promotion.

Mahjong was not his full-time job.

He simply saw a gap and created something to fill it.

Then he listened to what the community wanted.

Today, OC Mahjong hosts Monday events in Irvine and Anaheim, weekend events, collaborations, and other mashups involving activities like pickleball and run clubs. Export text – mahjongcleanedpod…

The lesson goes well beyond mahjong.

You do not always need a groundbreaking product.

Sometimes you need to recognize a demand that nobody is serving properly yet.

Give people a good experience.

Make newcomers feel welcome.

Build a team.

Let people bring their friends.

Then keep showing up.

Andrew’s stated legacy is simple: helping people and building community.

Considering how quickly OC Mahjong has grown, he is already doing exactly that. Export text – mahjongcleanedpod…

Follow OC Mahjong on Instagram at @OC_Mahjong and check their calendar for upcoming events in Orange County.