As the proud owner of Pet Party Palace, Lateefah's journey has truly been a remarkable one.
When I was a child, I used to ask my dad, “Daddy, can I touch that snake?” or whatever animal it was. He would always say “yes!”. Part of my love for animals is rooted in the fact that I was raised in an abusive home. I didn’t know it was trauma — it was just a way of life. Even our dog was not spared.
My favorite thing to do as a child was to walk in the creek and woods behind our house. I was a true nature girl, and I loved animals too. Actually, my childhood dream was to be a veterinarian. I had all kinds of pets: turtles, snakes, chickens, hamsters, a duck, and we always had a cat and a dog. I used to celebrate my pet turtle by taking her to school and feeding her worms in front of the class. Animals were my “out,” my safe place where I could just love them unconditionally.
Although I had a traumatic childhood, I knew I had to excel in life. As a child, I had to make A’s & B’s in school, which is why I excelled in education and graduated from Spelman College with a B.S., and Rutgers University with a Master of Public Policy.
I have over 16 years of business experience as the co-founder & CFO of Conner Dental Associates, and I am also a realtor. My work history as a public servant gives me a unique skill set to handle all aspects of being a successful entrepreneur.
The idea of Pet Party Palace came about in December 2024 when I asked ChatGPT what would be a good business for downtown Macon. A pet venue was one of the businesses suggested, and it took me back to a few years earlier when I had the idea to give birthday parties for pets. I knew I had locked onto something — I could hardly sleep that night because I was so excited. Five months later, I had my ribbon-cutting and Grand Opening!
This is a venue where pet owners can celebrate their pets’ special occasions, where pets can play, and memories can be captured at an on-site photography studio. Pet Party Palace taps into one of my guiding values: joy. My love for animals brings me joy, and my purpose is to spread this joy to others by providing a safe and fun environment for pet owners and the pets they love.
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Come join the fun and visit us today!