What started as a handful of friends crowding into a Tampa apartment on Tuesday evenings has grown into one of the Bay Area's more unexpected social scenes. Red Eye Mahjong Club, founded by Jacob Chang roughly two years ago, now draws around 40 players to venues across Tampa Bay — and it shows no signs of slowing down.
Chang, a Tampa native with Chinese and Ecuadorian roots, learned the game from his grandmother, whom he calls "Popo." He spent his early years stacking the tiles into little forts before actually learning to play, finally sitting down for a real match around age 13. When he started teaching friends in his apartment, the Tuesday sessions caught on fast — so fast that the space eventually couldn't hold everyone who wanted in.
The solution was refreshingly simple: Chang walked into Lost and Found, a local bar, and asked if his crew could set up a few tables. The answer was yes, and the club has been growing from there ever since. Venues have been enthusiastic partners, partly because the club plays on weekdays. "We bring in about 40 people who will buy drinks and support their business," Chang noted, calling it a win-win for everyone involved.
The club is designed to be welcoming to newcomers. Beginner nights feature coaches — including Chang's own family members — who teach the game from the ground up, with his mother handling check-ins and his girlfriend serving as the resident DJ. Chang's goal is simple: make sure no one feels embarrassed for not knowing the rules yet. "If someone tells me I had a great time tonight, then I did my job," he said.
Looking ahead, Chang has ambitions to expand Red Eye Mahjong Club to Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, and New York, though for now his focus remains on building the Tampa Bay community. Prospective players can find the event calendar on the club's Instagram page. This story was originally reported by Wild 94.1, citing I Love the Burg.
