Local Mahjong business expands throughout Richmond, across state lines

Screenshot 2025 02 04 at 3.25.42 PM

Sara Sloman founded RichMahj last year. (Courtesy Sloman)

When Sara Sloman sat down at her first Mahjong table in September of 2023, she never dreamed the game would spur a business that would reach throughout Richmond and beyond.

Eighteen months later, that’s exactly what’s happened: her company, RichMahj, offers Mahjong lessons to hundreds of players in multiple markets including Richmond, Virginia Beach, Charlottesville and Morehead City, North Carolina.

Sloman moved to Richmond post-grad from Roanoke College in 2012. With a background in consulting and accounting, Sloman said her mind is naturally predisposed to enjoy looking for patterns.

So when she stumbled upon a Mahjong lesson being taught in Richmond by a traveling Charlotte-based instructor, Sloman was instantly hooked. The tile-based game is originally from China, but has grown exponentially in the United States since the early 20th century.

“The game is based on trying to get a set of tiles in a pattern, and having an accounting and consulting background, I wanted everything to have a place,” Sloman said of her draw to the game.

Sloman, who works full time as a consultant at software company SAI360, has long been a fan of having a “side hustle,” with past stints making earrings and working part-time for a financial advisor.

After playing her first real Mahjong game, she decided she’d try her hand at a new hustle, bringing lessons to Richmonders who might want to learn the game. She opened RichMahj in January of last year.

Screenshot 2025 02 04 at 3.35.49 PM

RichMahj has taught over 750 beginners since its inception. (Courtesy Sloman)

RichMahj customers can schedule private Mahjong lessons for groups of four to 12 people. An instructor will come to their home to teach the game, with the company providing everything needed to play the game.

Private lessons are $70 per participant for beginner class RichMahj101, and $50 per participant for intermediate class RichMahj201. Private sessions are two-and-a-half hours.

RichMahj also offers “on-location” classes, where local business owners can host Mahjong events in their spaces for clients and customers. Rates are offered upon request for RichMahj on-location parties.

When Sloman started the business last year, she wasn’t sure how successful the venture would become.

“When I started, I gave myself a budget and said, ‘If I lose this, I’m okay with it, because it was fun,’” she said.

Yet the business has done the opposite of lose money. Over the course of its first year, RichMahj has held over 150 classes and taught the game to more than 750 beginners.

IMG 5199

RichMahj brings all the items necessary for game play to customers. (Courtesy Sloman)

Because of high demand, Sloman has hired four other instructors (some of whom she met while teaching a class) who now serve Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Charlottesville and Morehead City. Each instructor handles at least two classes per week, but it’s often more.

“Through word of mouth, it grew and grew, and I realized I couldn’t do it all by myself,” Sloman said. “We sit around and laugh about it a little bit…it’s truly unbelievable.”

RichMahj often teams with local spots like Blue Bee Cider, where Sloman hosts classes around twice per month and hosted its first Mahjong tournament in October.

As much as the business has grown already, Sloman has no plans to slow down. She is currently looking for another Charlottesville instructor and a potential new Richmond instructor to help with the growing number of event requests.

RichMahj has upcoming events with newly opened Dinner Party in Carytown, Reservoir Distillery and Truckle Cheesemongers.

Sloman is also on the board of the Virginia chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and is planning a tournament sometime in the spring in collaboration with the foundation, as well as looking at potential opportunities for Mahjong open-play events as more and more Richmonders learn the game.

“We’re not making people sit down and listen to us for two hours,” Sloman said. “Our lessons are very hands-on, and we want to try to meet people where they are.”

Screenshot 2025 02 04 at 3.25.42 PM

Sara Sloman founded RichMahj last year. (Courtesy Sloman)

When Sara Sloman sat down at her first Mahjong table in September of 2023, she never dreamed the game would spur a business that would reach throughout Richmond and beyond.

Eighteen months later, that’s exactly what’s happened: her company, RichMahj, offers Mahjong lessons to hundreds of players in multiple markets including Richmond, Virginia Beach, Charlottesville and Morehead City, North Carolina.

Sloman moved to Richmond post-grad from Roanoke College in 2012. With a background in consulting and accounting, Sloman said her mind is naturally predisposed to enjoy looking for patterns.

So when she stumbled upon a Mahjong lesson being taught in Richmond by a traveling Charlotte-based instructor, Sloman was instantly hooked. The tile-based game is originally from China, but has grown exponentially in the United States since the early 20th century.

“The game is based on trying to get a set of tiles in a pattern, and having an accounting and consulting background, I wanted everything to have a place,” Sloman said of her draw to the game.

Sloman, who works full time as a consultant at software company SAI360, has long been a fan of having a “side hustle,” with past stints making earrings and working part-time for a financial advisor.

After playing her first real Mahjong game, she decided she’d try her hand at a new hustle, bringing lessons to Richmonders who might want to learn the game. She opened RichMahj in January of last year.

Screenshot 2025 02 04 at 3.35.49 PM

RichMahj has taught over 750 beginners since its inception. (Courtesy Sloman)

RichMahj customers can schedule private Mahjong lessons for groups of four to 12 people. An instructor will come to their home to teach the game, with the company providing everything needed to play the game.

Private lessons are $70 per participant for beginner class RichMahj101, and $50 per participant for intermediate class RichMahj201. Private sessions are two-and-a-half hours.

RichMahj also offers “on-location” classes, where local business owners can host Mahjong events in their spaces for clients and customers. Rates are offered upon request for RichMahj on-location parties.

When Sloman started the business last year, she wasn’t sure how successful the venture would become.

“When I started, I gave myself a budget and said, ‘If I lose this, I’m okay with it, because it was fun,’” she said.

Yet the business has done the opposite of lose money. Over the course of its first year, RichMahj has held over 150 classes and taught the game to more than 750 beginners.

IMG 5199

RichMahj brings all the items necessary for game play to customers. (Courtesy Sloman)

Because of high demand, Sloman has hired four other instructors (some of whom she met while teaching a class) who now serve Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Charlottesville and Morehead City. Each instructor handles at least two classes per week, but it’s often more.

“Through word of mouth, it grew and grew, and I realized I couldn’t do it all by myself,” Sloman said. “We sit around and laugh about it a little bit…it’s truly unbelievable.”

RichMahj often teams with local spots like Blue Bee Cider, where Sloman hosts classes around twice per month and hosted its first Mahjong tournament in October.

As much as the business has grown already, Sloman has no plans to slow down. She is currently looking for another Charlottesville instructor and a potential new Richmond instructor to help with the growing number of event requests.

RichMahj has upcoming events with newly opened Dinner Party in Carytown, Reservoir Distillery and Truckle Cheesemongers.

Sloman is also on the board of the Virginia chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and is planning a tournament sometime in the spring in collaboration with the foundation, as well as looking at potential opportunities for Mahjong open-play events as more and more Richmonders learn the game.

“We’re not making people sit down and listen to us for two hours,” Sloman said. “Our lessons are very hands-on, and we want to try to meet people where they are.”

This story is for our paid subscribers only. Please become one of the thousands of BizSense Pro readers today!

Your subscription has expired. Renew now by choosing a subscription below!

For more informaiton, head over to your profile.

Profile


SUBSCRIBE NOW

 — 

 — 

 — 

TERMS OF SERVICE:

ALL MEMBERSHIPS RENEW AUTOMATICALLY. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR A 1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL AT THE RATE IN EFFECT AT THAT TIME UNLESS YOU CANCEL YOUR MEMBERSHIP BY LOGGING IN OR BY CONTACTING SUPPORT@BUSINESSDEN.COM.

ALL CHARGES FOR MONTHLY OR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS ARE NONREFUNDABLE.

EACH MEMBERSHIP WILL ONLY FUNCTION ON UP TO 3 MACHINES. ACCOUNTS ABUSING THAT LIMIT WILL BE DISCONTINUED.

FOR ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP PLEASE EMAIL SUPPORT@BUSINESSDEN.COM




Return to Homepage

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

5 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Peter James
Peter James
10 days ago

What a great business concept! It’s surprising just how popular this ancient game really is. I love the idea, too, of holding events such as classes & tournaments at & in coordination with various local gathering spots like Blue Bee Cider, Dinner Party, etc. Very exciting to see this enterprise flourish.

Wishing Ms. Sloman all the very best for tremendous success with this fantastic endeavor!

Last edited 10 days ago by Peter James
Michael Boyer
Michael Boyer
10 days ago
Reply to  Peter James

💯 agree!

Sara Sloman
Sara Sloman
9 days ago
Reply to  Michael Boyer

Thank you!!

Sara Sloman
Sara Sloman
9 days ago
Reply to  Peter James

Thank you!!!

Shawn Harper
Shawn Harper
10 days ago

“What’s old is new again” — Westerners even used to gamble on this game in the 1920s, esp women.