Today we’d like to introduce you to Al’Uriel Coleman.
Hi Al’Uriel, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m originally from Texas, I spent a lot of my childhood moving between family members, including my grandmother, my aunts, and both of my parents.
Animals were always one of my biggest interests, especially birds. I was fascinated by them from a young age. I also had a snake growing up, although reptiles and amphibians weren’t originally my focus.
I wanted to experience life outside of Texas. I eventually moved to Washington and later relocated to Oregon during the COVID-19 pandemic when my circumstances changed.
Before starting my own business, I worked a variety of jobs, including positions in retail, photography studios, and veterinary medicine. Each experience taught me something different, whether it was customer service, creativity, business operations, or working with people from different backgrounds. I got to see firsthand how businesses operated, what made them successful, and what I felt could be done differently.
My interest in animals eventually led my childhood dream in veterinary medicine, where I worked Vet assistant with exotic species. That’s where I developed a deeper love and appreciation for reptiles and amphibians. Working with these animals gave me the opportunity to understand their medical needs, and the challenges that come with keeping them healthy.
Veterinary medicine also changed my perspective on animal welfare and business. While I gained valuable experience and worked alongside some incredible people, I also saw aspects of the industry that I felt could be approached differently. It made me think about the importance of education, prevention, accessibility, and providing resources to animal owners before problems become emergencies.
Between my experiences in retail, photography, and veterinary medicine, I started thinking more seriously about entrepreneurship. I realized I wanted the opportunity to create my own environment, bring different ideas together, and build something that reflected my values.
Photography was passion and freelance business I had been developing. I enjoy the creativity, meeting new people, and telling stories through images. Eventually, I started imagining a business that could bring together my interests in photography, animals, nature, and community.
I started sharing these ideas with my girlfriend, who is also my business partner now. I remember trying to convince her that I could make this work. We both had a lot of ideas, but I also knew we needed a realistic plan to turn them into something sustainable.
I spent a couple years developing our business plan and figuring out how we could create services and experiences that people would enjoy while also supporting animal welfare. We wanted to build something that could generate its own income rather than depend entirely on donations.
In the fall of 2024, we opened 4th Ave Studio in Portland. Photography was our starting point, but we always had a bigger vision for the space.
That vision eventually grew into Portland Reptile Lounge and 4th Ave Exotics Rescue.
We wanted to create something different from a traditional pet store, zoo, or rescue. A place where people could hang out, study, attend events, meet reptiles, learn about responsible animal care, and connect with their community.
Today, we’ve brought those ideas together under one roof. Our space offers photography services, educational programs, family movie nights, creative workshops, community gatherings, and interactive experiences with our animal ambassadors. Behind the scenes, we also provide long-term care, coordinate veterinary care, and help rehome reptiles and amphibians when appropriate.
I’m currently finishing my biology degree at Portland State University, and my long-term goal is to expand access to exotic animal veterinary care, education, and resources that help prevent abandonment.
One of my favorite parts of this journey has been seeing how people respond to what we’ve created. Watching someone overcome their fear of snakes, seeing children excited to learn about animals, or hearing people describe our space as a hidden gem reminds me why we started.
What started as an idea I was trying to convince my girlfriend we could pull off has grown into something we’re now building together. We’re still learning and growing, but I’m proud of how far we’ve come and excited about what’s next.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve faced quite a few challenges throughout my life, and many of them have shaped how I approach business, relationships, and the world around me.
Growing up in a low-income family, moving between households, and being exposed to difficult environments taught me early that life doesn’t always go according to plan. I spent about a year living out of my car after moving to Washington. Those experiences changed how I viewed stability, independence, and building something for myself.
Today, one of my biggest challenges is balancing everything. I’m finishing my biology degree while running business and caring for animals. Financially, we’re self-funded, and much of what we earn goes right back into operating expenses, paying our team, and providing animal care. We’ve also had to invest our own money to keep things running.
Another challenge has been creating a business that doesn’t fit into one category. Combining photography, entertainment, education, and animal welfare means constantly explaining our vision while figuring out how to make it sustainable. Animal welfare also requires difficult decisions, boundaries, and understanding that we can’t help every animal, no matter how much we’d like to.
Being a Black business owner has brought its own challenges. I’ve experienced racism, including criticism of my interracial relationship and my presence in industries where you don’t typically see many people of color. I’ve had people walk into my own business and completely overlook me until they realize I’m the owner. I’ve also received hateful comments simply for doing what I love. Those experiences can be frustrating, but they’ve also reinforced why representation matters and why I want to create a welcoming space for everyone.
Personally, I’ve had to learn a lot about communication, leadership, setting boundaries, and separating emotions from business decisions. Having a vision doesn’t automatically mean knowing how to manage every part of it. I’ve made mistakes, and I’m still learning to listen, adapt, and take accountability.
I think my biggest ongoing challenge is learning to be patient. When you have big goals, it’s easy to get frustrated when progress doesn’t happen as quickly as you’d like. Some months are great, others are difficult and sometimes plans must change completely.
I don’t have everything figured out, and I don’t pretend to. But I’ve learned that overcoming challenges isn’t always about reaching a point where life becomes easy. Sometimes it’s about learning how to navigate difficult situations, make better decisions, and keep moving forward while staying true to what you’re trying to build.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about 4th Ave Studio / Portland Reptile Lounge?
4th Ave Studio is our creative photography space, while Portland Reptile Lounge combines education, entertainment, community, and animal welfare. Together, we’ve created a space that brings our love for photography, animals, nature, and people under one roof.
Through 4th Ave Studio, we offer professional photography, portraits, studio rentals, and creative experiences for individuals, families, artists, models, and businesses.
Portland Reptile Lounge offers something a little different. Guests can hang out, study, play games, attend events, and learn about reptiles and amphibians in a welcoming environment. We host family-friendly movie nights, educational programs, workshops, and community gatherings. Our Reptile Recognition Program also encourages children to develop their curiosity, knowledge, responsible handling, and communication skills.
Animal welfare is at the heart of what we do. Many of our animals have been surrendered or rehomed, and we prioritize veterinary care, enrichment, education, and long-term care. Some become permanent educational ambassadors, while others are responsibly rehomed.
What sets us apart is our business model. Rather than relying entirely on donations, we’ve created services and experiences that generate revenue to help support our animal welfare efforts. We also believe animals aren’t simply attractions. Their well-being comes first, and meaningful education is just as important as interaction.
What I’m most proud of is the community we’re building. We’ve created a space where people of different ages, backgrounds, and interests can connect, learn, and experience something new. We value accessibility, collaboration over competition, and supporting other local artists and organizations.
Ultimately, I want people to know we’re more than a photography studio or reptile lounge. We’re building a sustainable, community-centered business where creativity and education help support animal welfare. We’re still growing, but everything we do connects back to that purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.4thaveproduct.com
- Other: https://www.portlandreptilelounge.com
