Oldies tunes play from Kafe Asmara, a small eatery on Jalan Hambalang\nin Citeureup, Bogor Regency. Visitors sing along while chatting and\nenjoying the afternoon atmosphere. Kafe Asmara has become a popular spot\nfor locals on weekends, where they gather, share stories, and enjoy\nviews from Bogor\u2019s highland area.<\/p>\n
In the bustling atmosphere, Rita Sahara, 32, is busy serving arriving\ncustomers, ensuring all orders reach diners\u2019 tables. Rita explained her\neatery opened around three years ago, starting from her passion for\ncooking and desire to run her own business. \u2018I really wanted to start a\nfood business. So when the idea came, I just went for it and focused on\nit,\u2019 Rita said.<\/p>\n
Initially, Rita\u2019s eatery was basic, with only tables and chairs for\ncustomers. Over time, she noticed customers staying longer, so she\nshifted to a lesehan (floor seating) concept for greater comfort. Rita\nrented the location for her eatery, using personal savings initially.\nHowever, her funds were insufficient, so she applied for a BRI KUR loan\nof Rp 30 million over three years.<\/p>\n
Like any new business, Kafe Asmara faced early struggles. Rita\ninitially earned no income but remained confident it would grow. \u2018I just\nkept going, trusting it would succeed. That was my belief,\u2019 she said.\nRita now earns Rp 50 million monthly, covering rent, ingredients,\nelectricity, and Wi-Fi costs.<\/p>\n
Menu items include fried chicken, fried rice, and soto soup,\nalongside snacks like cheese banana, grilled bread, and bakwan. For\ningredients, Rita sources from nearby markets, selecting fresh and\nsuitable produce. Two staff members, Rita\u2019s relatives, assist her on a\nrotating schedule during day and night shifts. \u2018I handle the cooking. On\nweekends, we bring in extra help,\u2019 Rita added.<\/p>\n
Customers come from diverse groups, including motorcycle and\nremote-control car clubs, and regions across Indonesia\u2014from East Nusa\nTenggara to Papua. \u2018It\u2019s a mix of everyone,\u2019 she said. Visitor numbers\nfluctuate daily, but weekends are busiest as locals come to enjoy the\natmosphere. \u2018Weekdays see just one or two customers, but weekends get\nbusy,\u2019 she noted.<\/p>\n
Rita used the KUR loan to build an upper section for scenic views,\nwhich increased visitors due to the more comfortable setting. \u2018It makes\nthem comfortable. This upper area was built with KUR funds\u2014that\u2019s what I\nmean by significant,\u2019 Rita said. She also noted the loan improved her\neconomic situation, with most profits saved rather than spent. \u2018I\nhaven\u2019t bought things like motorcycles or anything; I just save it,\u2019\nRita said.<\/p>\n
Rita plans to build a larger kitchen, as the current space is too\ncramped for cooking operations. \u2018The kitchen expansion is planned, but\ntiming is uncertain\u2014it\u2019s still just a plan,\u2019 Rita said. She thanked BRI\nfor the KUR funding, stating it greatly supported her small business.\n\u2018Thank you so much for the help. As a small UMKM operator, this support\nhas been invaluable. I hope KUR helps more UMKMs out there\u2014it really\ndoes make a difference,\u2019 Rita said.<\/p>\n
Rita\u2019s KUR disbursement is part of BRI\u2019s commitment to supporting\nUMKMs, with loans aimed at boosting community economic growth. Giri\nLaksomono, BRI Cibinong Branch Micro Business Manager, said KUR\ndisbursements for UMKMs have grown yearly. He noted business conditions\nstabilised after the pandemic\u2019s impact. \u2018Year by year since COVID-19,\nthings have improved and stabilised. As stability returns, demand for\nbank loans\u2014especially KUR\u2014to scale up businesses has kept rising,\u2019 Giri\nsaid. He hopes continued KUR disbursements will help UMKMs grow,\nenabling them to expand operations and improve their economic\nconditions. \u2018From a business perspective, KUR\u2019s interest rates aren\u2019t\nhighly profitable for BRI. It\u2019s minimal yield, but morally, our\nresponsibility is to disburse credit,\u2019 he added.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bri-kur-support-helps-rita-expand-hambalang-eatery-1780160233", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }