You have the space. I have the regulars.
MAHJONG FOR VENUES · BOUTIQUES, CAFES, WINERIES
I teach American mahjong inside local businesses around St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay, and the lessons lead somewhere: a weekly open play at your venue. Your space becomes where the regulars gather and new players come to join them.
Everyone is talking about mahjong.
Your customers are hearing about it everywhere. It's the fastest-rising social trend in the country.
4,467%
one-year jump in searches for mahjong clubs
Yelp 2026 Trend Forecast
819%
one-year jump in searches for mahjong lessons
Yelp 2026 Trend Forecast
350k+
members of the National Mah Jongg League
NMJL
The wave isn't coming to Tampa Bay. It's already here. WUSF reported in 2026 that mahjong is growing across the region, with new clubs popping up from Tampa to St. Pete.
"Men have golf. Women have mahjong."
Made for spaces with a quiet hour.
If you have tables, seats and a slow stretch of the week, you have a mahjong room.
- Boutiques and gift shops
- Cafes and tea rooms
- Wineries and wine bars
- Restaurants with a quiet morning or afternoon
- Studios and maker spaces
How it works.
01
Show me your space.
Your tables, your seats and the hours you'd like to fill.
02
I build the program.
Which classes, how often, and how we fill the seats, sent back to you in writing.
03
I teach, you host.
I bring the tiles, racks and cards and run every class. You keep the coffee, wine or shopping going.
Lessons fill the seats. Open play keeps them.
Classes are the doorway. Weekly open play is the room everyone comes back to.
STEP 1
A Taste of Mahjong.
A relaxed 90-minute first look at the game, like the Mahjong + Matcha mornings at Perry's Porch.
STEP 2
Lessons.
Mahjong 101, then 102 and Guided Play, so new players learn the game at your tables.
STEP 3 · THE BIG ONE
Weekly open play.
Open play is where the program lives. Every week, your regulars come back to play, the players from your last class join them, and new faces find you through my calendar. Your venue becomes the place in town where mahjong happens.
Already have players? We can start with open play and add lessons as new people ask.
Pricing: every program is built for the venue. Tell me about your space and I'll come back with a plan.
Want something else, or something different? I can customize the scope for your venue. Tell me what you have in mind.
Where I teach now.
Dillard's Tyrone Square, AR Workshop St. Petersburg, Pour & Décor, Perry's Porch, Paloma House, Yin Soul and others.
Who's behind it
Meet Gaia.
I'm Gaia Banovich, founder of Master Your Mahjong. I've taught more than 3,000 students since 2023 and built mahjong programs with more than a dozen venues around Tampa Bay. My Mahjong Made Simple method takes people from their first tile to a real game, and keeps them coming back.
Certified American Mahjong Instructor · Founding Member, Mahj Life Instructors Guild · 2025 AMJA Favorite Instructor nominee · Featured on FOX13
From my partners.
Venues and businesses I build mahjong programs with.
"Beyond being an excellent teacher, Gaia is organized, professional, reliable, and a true pleasure to work with."
"Beyond teaching the game, Gaia has helped us build something even more meaningful: a true sense of community."
"From day one, Gaia has been incredibly reliable, communicative, and professional."
Questions about mahjong at your venue.
Do I or my staff need to know how to play?
No. I teach every class, so your team can stay behind the counter.
What do we need to provide?
Tables, chairs and a little elbow room. I bring the tiles, racks and cards.
How many people make a class?
Every class needs at least 6 players to run.
How do we fill the seats?
We promote it together: your customers, my students and my class calendar.
Can it run every week?
Yes. Most venues start with one class and add open play once the regulars show up.
Do you work outside Tampa Bay?
Yes. I can set up the program for an instructor near you, the same way I build programs for pickleball clubs.
Pick your quiet hours. I'll fill the tables.
Tell me about your space and when it's slow. I'll come back with a plan.