New downtown Macon pet venue treats animals like royalty. See inside.

For Lateefah Conner, opening Pet Party Palace in downtown Macon fulfilled a dream years in the making.

Offering a tricked-out space for everything from parties to photo shoots to quality time with furry friends, Pet Party Palace puts pets and pet owners in the spotlight.

Conner said she decided to open a business after moving with her husband to Macon a year ago. She bounced some of her interests off of ChatGPT in December 2024, which suggested she open a pet venue.

“It took me back to an idea I had several years ago which was to host birthday parties for pets,” Conner said. “Just getting some help from AI really, this really blossomed.”

Conner’s love for animals started when she was a child growing up in an abusive home. She said she would often venture to the creek near her parents’ house to collect frogs, lizards and other critters. She even considered becoming a veterinarian when she grew up.

As an adult, she has two bunnies, two frogs and a turtle who are frequent visitors to Pet Party Palace.

“Animals allow me to love them unconditionally,” Conner said. “I’ve always loved animals and they were my out.”

The venue opened in May and is located in a historic building on Third Street. It features an agility course, a wash station, backdrops for photos, a private party room, a ball pit with a slide and more.

Many of the venue’s amenities were custom built for Pet Party Palace, including a swing for photos that’s made from a piece of an elevator shaft Conner found in the building when she was preparing to open.

The furniture — which includes a pair of ornate thrones for pet photos and a hot pink couch in the reception area — were handpicked by Conner for the space, with some pieces coming from as far as New York.

Since opening its doors, Pet Party Party Palace has hosted birthday parties, craft nights, photo shoots and playtimes for a variety of animals.

Conner said the most popular booking so far has been private playtimes. The private playtimes allow pet owners to make an appointment for their furry friend to have free reign of the venue. Some pet owners enjoy quality time with their animals, while others use it as an opportunity to meet up with friends and socialize.

Pet Party Palace also hosts themed events and promotions. In honor of the movie “Superman” hitting theaters in July, Conner dressed as Supergirl and posed for photos with pets.

As Disney on Ice rolls into town the first weekend of October, Conner said Princess Tiana will make an appearance at the venue for pictures.

Conner said she started these events to bring people closer to their pets, and loves seeing the look on pet owners’ faces as they play and take photos.

Since opening, Conner has been hard at work forging partnerships, growing her customer base and getting involved with the community.

She partnered with a private baker to create handmade treats for parties and events, and has started a collection box for pet food to gather donations for Noah’s Ark and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services department.

Conner said she’s excited to watch the business grow, and connect with others who find solace in animals.

“I feel like I’m fulfilling my purpose,” Conner said. “If I’m able to obtain that by helping other people have joy and fun … that makes me happy, being able to share and spread that.”