Peters Township woman opens mahjong studio dedicated to gameplay
Peters Township woman opens Southpointe studio dedicated to gameplay
Michele Humphreys, mother of hockey-playing triplets, is a gamer by nature. “I just like to be busy,” she said.
Humphreys is just that, overseeing four sons in all and a Southpointe business.
A few months ago, she ramped up her regimen further by launching an endeavor that has been satisfying and entertaining for her and is gaining traction in the community.
Humphreys is the owner of Mahji Bird, a mahjong studio and retail boutique at 1800 Main St. in the mixed-use Town Center. The facility provides instruction, encourages gamesmanship and promotes fun.
She selected the name for the studio, saying “there really was no thought behind this,” other than “birds are a big part of the game.”
Mahjong, as described by AI Overview, “is a tile-based game that originated in 19th-century China and is traditionally played with four players. The core objective is to draw and discard tiles to build a winning hand.” Players can select from a variety of mahjong games to play.
AI added that the game “is experiencing a massive surge in popularity across the United States and globally.”
“This is a nice way to spend quality time with people,” Humphreys said. “The game keeps you mentally sharp. I started playing a few years ago.”
She calls her facility, which has about 1,000 square feet, “Pittsburgh’s first mahjong studio and retail boutique.” It is tastefully adorned with collections of mahjong tiles, mats and other accessories. There is a wide variety of games that can be played.
“We play American mahjong, but we still honor the Chinese traditions,” said Humphreys, who grew up in McCandless in the North Hills and now resides in Peters Township.
Mahjong is an activity that many in the general public are not familiar with, but participation is increasing. That is evident inside her studio, which has six mahjong tables in the storefront.
“We’re teaching a lot of lessons. We taught about 300 students during the first two months and we’re pretty well booked till the end of the year.”
She said the game gained traction during the COVID pandemic and continues to do so.
Located just off Interstate 79 in Cecil Township, Mahji Bird is a convenient drive for players and would-be players from the South Hills and communities throughout Washington and Greene counties.
“We have a lot of learners who come here from Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair and Peters,” the owner said. On a recent Monday, two Upper St. Clair women, Kathe Wright and Delorian Selvaggi, were playing in the studio as instructor Erin Baxter advised them on moves and strategies.
Three months into this new enterprise, Humphreys is pleased with what has been transpiring at Mahji Bird, across the street from Nate’s Chop House.
“I had four kids in 21 months, so not much rattles me,” she said, laughing. “I signed a three-year lease because I believed in this so much.”