It was a lucky day for Phoenicia when Lateefah came to a job fair, with her mom, just before the opening of the downtown store. Her sunny smile and bright eyes stood out as a beacon and she was hired to be a waitress by the MKT BAR manager. Her mom was also hired, but at orientation the first day, Lateefah felt more connected to the grocery store and asked if she could be reassigned there as a cashier. That was Lateefah’s first jump into the sea of success she has earned at Phoenicia.

Working at Phoenicia was a culture shock. Growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, Lateefah never thought she would be exposed to so many cultures, languages or foods from other countries. She’s a Southern belle at heart, who has lived all her life in the South. While living in Memphis, Tennessee, she saw Elvis’ house and decided it was time to go home. She moved to Houston to be closer to her family. Lateefah embraced Houston and its cultural diversity, and once she was here, she knew she found the place for her sons to grow up. Mentioning her two young sons, Lateefah’s face lights up. They are the light of her life and the driving force behind her success.

Lateefah keeps the store on steady course by making sure that all of our great products make it to the shelves and into our customer’s happy hands. She oversees the process from the delivery of the items to stocking of the shelves, monitors the cashiers as they sell and even maintains the stock. Lateefah’s work ethic is unrivaled and she is indispensible.

The most interesting thing she has learned while working here–and that she will always carry forward in her life–is how a family business works. She loves how the Tcholakian family cares about their employees and how they work hard to help everyone be successful. Here at Phoenicia, she feels everyone counts.

This fall, Lateefah will go to school for nursing. She is excited about her science classes, especially her favorite course of biology. We are excited to support her and know that with her careful determination and caring nature, she will make an amazing nurse.

When asked about her favorite foods at Phoenicia, Lateefah flashes a gigantic smile and without a moment’s hesitation says, “Chicken Shawarma and Haig’s Nut Mix!”