Zeus’ Place Provides Owner New “Leash” on Life
October 3, 2006
On August 29, 2005, Michelle Ingram’s life took a very radical turn.
Katrina destroyed her Freret Street area home, and bankrupted the Metairie office of the international company that employed Michelle and her husband. They evacuated to her brother’s home in Houston, where Michelle, a computer network administrator immediately received two solid job offers. But in less than two weeks, she chose to return to New Orleans to do something she’d been doing for over a decade - rescue animals.
Nine months later, on June 1st, 2006, Michelle’s life took another radical turn. That’s the day she opened Zeus’ Place, and animal care became her new profession, the fulfillment of a lifelong dream - and the recipient of her life’s savings.
Zeus’ Place, a pet grooming and boarding service on Freret Street, offers over-and-above services like Web cams for concerned pet owners and luxury suites for “pet families” or large dogs. Dogs enjoy off-leash play in a 30’×120’ lot five times a day.
“Once word of mouth got out about all the extra attention we give our animals, we started booking up.” Wisely, Michelle also caters to the unique needs of the current local market, including flexible “contractor specials” such as day visits while roofers are working.
Freret Street saw extensive flood and wind damage, but the area is slowly blossoming thanks to other enthusiastic business and homeowners like Michelle. A recent meeting of Freret area merchants and residents included representatives from Brottworks Glass, Freret Hardware, Southern Repertory Theater, Friar Tuck’s Bar & Grill, Okereda Women’s Apparel, and the soon-to-open ice cream parlor Jesse’s Place to name a few.
“I’ve been really well accepted by the neighborhood. When people find out I’m a local girl, that I’m completely rebuilding my house just four blocks away, that helps too.”
She’s definitely committed. Michelle’s parents, in whose Thibodaux home the family stayed after leaving Houston, would say she should be committed for sinking her savings into Zeus’.
Instead, she took advantage of the upheaval that the hurricane had blown her way to make a quick deal on the old Eve’s Market property, and to follow her proverbial bliss. Lest it all sound like harmonic convergence, however, rest assured it’s been anything but simple.
“You’d think they’d roll out the red carpet, for a woman opening up a business on Freret Street in post-Katrina New Orleans,” Ingram remarked. “But it’s been quite the opposite. I didn’t get any help. I had to keep telling myself every night, ‘All right, I really want to do this with all my heart, so I’ve just got to keep going, keep going.’”
It helps that’s she’s a goal-driven, acknowledged optimist.
Like many small business owners in New Orleans, Ingram did much of the work herself and relied on friends and family for labor crews. “You’ve just got to do it. You can’t wait for anything these days.” Her watchword for other business owners? Persistence. “Stay focused. You”re going to run into so many roadblocks.”
So why bother? Why not take the Houston job offer? “I’m thankful to be alive, but I couldn’t wait to get back to New Orleans’” answers Michelle. “When you see a guy riding a bike, wearing a tutu and carrying a computer bag, and you don’t look twice because it’s normal, there’s only one place that can happen. To be away from New Orleans, for me, is miserable. Besides, now my days are filled with rubbing puppy bellies and playing with kittens. How can you possibly have a bad day with that?”
We can’t think of a way. Welcome home, Michelle. It’s so very, very good to have you back.
Zeus’ Place
504-304-4718 4601 Freret St . New Orleans, LA 70115
Hours: 9am - 5pm, 7 days a week. Early/late pick-ups or drop-offs available by advance arrangement.
Services include dog, cat and bird boarding; grooming including specialty cuts; teeth cleaning. Half-price rates for second pet boarded; board pet for six days and seventh day is free.