Amber Gipson and Eleanor Boynton at Peace Love Mahjong
Eleanor Boynton and Amber Gipson met in 2021 when their young daughters were classmates at Lake Highlands United Methodist Church’s Christian Childhood Development Center. As their girls moved on to kindergarten at Lake Highlands Elementary and their little boys paired up, the women found themselves together spending more and more time with a close group of neighborhood moms.
“Living just a few streets apart and watching our wild third-child boys become best buddies made us realize how much we genuinely enjoyed each other’s company,” says Boynton.
Gipson and Boynton learned to play Mahjong, a tile game with ancient Chinese roots enjoying explosive popularity throughout Lake Highlands and across the country. As they began teaching the game to friends and family, they became disappointed at the lack of affordable — yet beautiful — tile sets.
“It was tough to convince someone who had just learned the game to spend $500+ on a set of their own,” says Gipson. “Without access to tiles, they’d end up forgetting how to play, which was so discouraging.”
The women set out to design their own sets, using creativity to express Chinese symbols such as winds, dragons, flowers and seasons. Their company, Peace Love Mahjong, was created to handle online orders. The tiles were a hit, but their dining room tables began overflowing with orders ready to ship.
Eighteen months later, they’ve officially opened a brick-and-mortar retail and event space at Easton and Northwest Highway. The shop carries their full Peace Love Mahjong line, and online orders may be picked up in the store. They’ll also dedicate a corner of their space for products from other local businesses.
An adjacent event space called Where Dragons Play will be directed by Jess, events coordinator and head mahjong instructor. Inside, they’ll offer Mahjong Social Club, private group lessons and classes open to the public. First Tuesday Mahjong Night at Cedar & Vine restaurant will begin when the weather cools off.
“It’s been amazing to look back over the past year and a half and see how well we work together,” says Boynton. “We share a strong work ethic, trust our instincts without overthinking, sense when the other needs a break and truly enjoy and love each other.”
“We’re proud of what we’ve built and genuinely love what we get to do,” agrees Gipson, “but we also remind each other not to take things too seriously. Our guiding rule? If we’re not enjoying ourselves most of the time, it’s time to ask for more help or reevaluate our priorities. We both agree this is supposed to be fun — and we’re committed to keeping it that way.”
The pair admit opening a retail and event space has been a bit scary, but they say, deep down, they both know it was the right choice. At first, each location they viewed had a dealbreaker attached. When the spot in Lake Plaza Shopping Center became available, they recognized that the space offered more than they’d even been looking for.
“We have a place to work together whenever we want,” says Gipson. “We can finally order inventory based on what makes sense for the business — not just what fits in our dining rooms. We’ve hired dear friends to help in different areas so we can focus on what brings us joy and adds the most value to Peace Love Mahjong. Even while doing the ‘boring stuff’ like packing orders or answering emails, we manage to laugh so hard it hurts. We’re stretching ourselves creatively, learning new things and watching the vision come to life.”
“Our kids love coming to the shop — they build Mahjong walls, package small items, eat candy, play cards and occasionally bug us,” laughs Boynton. “In short, we’re living a dream we didn’t even know we had just a few months ago. We can’t wait to share it with the neighborhood we love so much. Are we tired? Yes. Do we sometimes wonder what we’ve gotten ourselves into? For sure. Are we 100% certain how long this will last or what it will look like a year from now? Not really. But more often than not, we’re having a blast, feeling proud and doing our best to show our kids that dreams can come true — with hard work, supportive friends and family and a whole lot of determination. Women really can make anything happen when they decide to go for it.”
Boynton and Gipson say Mahjong can feel overwhelming at first — there are a lot of tiles, rules and table talk to take in. That’s why learning from someone who really knows the game makes a difference to success and enjoyment for the player.
“Knowledgeable teachers can break things down in a way that feels fun and approachable, explaining not just how to play, but why things work the way they do,” says Gipson “Plus, when you learn in a supportive environment and get to practice regularly, it builds your confidence and helps you pick up the rhythm of the game much faster. Even experienced players benefit from playing often — it sharpens your skills, strengthens your strategy and keeps the game fresh. Like any great game, Mahjong is something you keep learning as you go, and that’s part of what makes it so fun and social.”
Gipson and Boynton have seen people of all ages fall in love with the game, from wee ones at their Little Mahj Summer Camps to older folks learning a new hobby to share with family and friends. Their target market for the shop is folks who enjoy thoughtfully designed, colorful and creative products. For the event space, they’re seeking people who enjoy making connections and learning new things.
“You’re never too old or too young to learn,” says Boynton. “Mahjong is a game that brings people together across generations, and our shop is designed to be a welcoming, joyful space where everyone feels encouraged to pull up a chair and play. Whether you’re brand new or have been playing for decades, there’s always something new to learn and enjoy.”
You’ll find more about Peace Love Mahjong’s tile sets, rentals, lessons, summer camps and retail shop on their Instagram here and their website here.
Peace Love Mahjong is at 10218 E. Northwest Highway.
Opening day at Peace Love Mahjong
Mahjong appeals to players of all ages, from wee ones to folks interested in learning a new hobby to veterans of the game.
Peace Love Mahjong
Peace Love Mahjong
