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For Lori and Victoria Millican, learning to play mahjong together led to an unexpected business venture. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law team opened Tile & Table in downtown Tyrone, creating a place where people can learn the increasingly popular game, meet other players and enjoy a little time away from home.
It began when Lori suggested that the two take a mahjong class.
“She had texted me a while ago, ‘Let’s go take our first class together,’” Victoria recalled.
They enjoyed learning the game but soon discovered they needed more people to play with.
“All our mahjong experience has all been with each other,” Victoria said.
“Let’s just make our own studio and get people to play with,” she recalled thinking.
When a space became available in downtown Tyrone, they decided to move quickly. Tile & Table celebrated its grand opening on Aug. 29.
The timing was especially busy for Victoria, who married Lori’s son, Preston, on Sept. 18. At the same time, she was helping launch the business and build a new house.
She conquered many of life’s major moments at once.
Creating a place for friends
The Millicans transformed a former security business office into a mahjong studio. They painted, removed interior dividers and rearranged cabinets to make room for gaming tables.
The result is a colorful space filled with mahjong tiles, accessories and merchandise, with everything players need for an afternoon together.
Lori sees the game as an alternative to the distractions of everyday life.
“Being able to get together with your friends and just have fun playing a game away from phones and TV. And just a night to get away and be with your friends,” she said.
“Plus, it’s a fun game.”
Victoria enjoys the colorful tiles and accessories that have become part of mahjong’s appeal. And because a game can stretch for two or three hours, there’s plenty of opportunity for conversation.
“It’s just a good time to catch up with all your friends,” she said.
The Millicans have made the studio an easy alternative to entertaining at home.
“You don’t have to host at your home. We have everything set up for you,” Lori said. “You don’t have to set it up. You don’t have to clean it up.”
Victoria also noted the advantage of playing somewhere without children running around or making noise in the background.
The studio supplies the tables, tiles and other equipment, along with complimentary snacks and drinks during regular open play.
Learning to play and making connections
Tile & Table welcomes experienced mahjong players and beginners, with lessons, open play and private events.
Regular open play costs $20 per person for a two-hour session, or $80 for a table of four. The price includes a complimentary drink and snack.
Discounted drop-in play is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays for $10 per person through the end of the year.
Customers don’t need to arrive with a full table of four. The Millicans have started a GroupMe chat to help individuals find other players.
The studio also offers memberships, with benefits that can include retail discounts, reduced private-event rental rates and guest passes.
For those interested in lessons, the Millicans are willing to accommodate groups whose schedules don’t fit the available class times.
“Tell us what works for you, and we’ll make that happen,” Lori said.
The studio can accommodate as many as 36 players, making it suitable for larger gatherings and community events.
Tile & Table also sells mahjong merchandise, including tiles, mats and accessories. Lori said the business is one of two locations carrying Peachtree City-themed tiles.
A family business with local roots
Both women bring backgrounds in education to their new venture.
Victoria graduated from Georgia College in 2022 and taught first grade for four years before leaving teaching in May.
Lori worked as a teaching assistant at Landmark Christian School for 13 years before retiring in 2020.
Lori’s ties to Fayette County go back decades. She has lived in the county since 1980, attended J.C. Booth Middle School and met her husband while attending McIntosh High School.
Now, the two generations of the Millican family are working together to build a business around a game they learned together.
The studio has also developed connections with the Fayette Mahjong Social Club, and the owners are considering activities beyond mahjong.
Victoria mentioned Mexican Train, poker and bunco as possibilities for future game nights. Those activities are still being considered rather than offered as regular programs.
The idea is to make Tile & Table a gathering place for the broader Tyrone community, including people who may never have picked up a mahjong tile.
A welcoming spot in downtown Tyrone
Tile & Table’s location puts players close to other downtown Tyrone businesses, where they can combine a game with lunch, coffee or shopping.
According to the owners, more than 200 people attended their grand opening on Aug. 29.
The response gave the Millicans an encouraging start as they introduced their new venture to the community.
What began as two relatives looking for more mahjong partners has become a business offering Tyrone residents another reason to gather downtown.
Pink Friday and Thanksgiving hours
Tile & Table will celebrate Pink Friday on November 20, offering free mahjong play from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and discounted mahjong merchandise.
The studio will be closed Wednesday through Friday during Thanksgiving week, November 25–27.
Visit Tile & Table
Tile & Table is located at 868 Senoia Road in Tyrone.
The hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Evening events are available to book from 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturday events are available by appointment.
For information about open play, lessons, memberships and private events, visit tileandtabletyrone.com or call 770-676-1796.
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