Fountain Cafe brings entertainment to dining out

Fountain Cafe brings entertainment to dining out

JAKARTA (JP): At this cafe complex, there are several of, to
be more precise, tent cafes, popularly known as warung tenda. The
complex is located at a square with a stage for live
entertainment at Plaza Senayan, one of the leading shopping malls
in the capital. Unlike other mushrooming cafes in the city, these
offer more than just food and music. A fountain as the major
attraction, gives it the name, the Fountain Cafe.

In fact, the fountain is more impressive than the menus at the
14 cafes. Located at the center of the square, it is about 10
meters in length and width. There is no water pool. The floor is
flat and water spouts directly from a series of underground
holes, which move in any direction while shorter and taller jets
of water and light come from underground. What a beautiful scene.

You might have visited the mall several times but if you've
never seen the fountain and are curious, come to the area on the
weekend after 7 p.m. and you'll find it.

The Fountain Cafe opens only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,
starting at 6 p.m. until midnight.

The fountain attracts many people, mostly kids, who venture
close in curiosity to the fountain square, stepping between the
holes from where the water spurts.

On a recent Friday night, not only young children, but older
women and men as well were seen playing with the fountain. They
were having fun enjoying the water. They walked, ran and even
danced in the middle of it. Rain did not stop them either. It
seemed that the rain was a complement to having fun and being
wet.

If you are lucky you can also see a special dance performance
or fashion show there.

Visitors at the cafes are mostly families. The whole family,
young and old, can share and enjoy fun together at the square
while having meals.

The Fountain Cafe, which was launched in February, is part of
the Plaza Senayan complex, which comprises a shopping center,
office buildings and apartments. The square remains vacant during
weekdays as the fountain occasionally works in the daytime.

An executive at Plaza Senayan, Heru, said the tent cafes
initially began operating in July 1998 as an alternative activity
to the plaza.

"We are the pioneers in establishing tent cafes at a shopping
mall," he said.

Tent cafes are also found at Ambassador Mall on Jl. Casablanca
in Kuningan, South Jakarta.

Plaza Senayan built the fountain as part of a new arrangement
to attract more visitors. Today, there are 14 cafes at Plaza
Senayan.

According to Heru, some of the cafe operators previously ran
their business around Kebayoran Baru. They moved to Plaza Senayan
as it was more promising. Some others, however, left Plaza
Senayan to operate at Kampung Tenda Semanggi, a complex of semi-
permanent cafes located in the Central Business District, near
Jl. Sudirman, which was inaugurated last March.

Heru admitted that there was a drop in the number of visitors
since last year, and especially after March, which forced the
management to make more of an effort to attract the public.

"We introduced live entertainment in May, with two groups
performing each time," he said.

Heru said there were about 2,000 visitors every night during
the operating period on the weekend, which was lower than some
5,000 visitors in November last year. "It's because of the recent
(security) situation in the capital."

"More people came when there were top performers like Nugie or
Joshua," he said, adding that there was usually sponsorship for
the artists.

Cafe operators have to pay monthly fees for a space of 40
square meters each and are required to offer "attractive" menus.
Heru, however, declined to mention any figure.

A tenant, Hary Riadi, started at Plaza Senayan in July last
year.

He said he currently takes in some Rp 3 million during the
three operating nights from his Nidya cafe, which offered, among
other things, spaghetti and barbecued items.

"It's a bit low compared to the Rp 6 million to Rp 8 million I
got in November last year."

He said the only challenge was the wind and the rain. "We have
to set up a good tent, especially to avoid heavy rain."

Doddy Nababan, who runs Hilite Cafe, believes the location at
Plaza Senayan has better prospects compared to other tent cafe
areas.

He expects the customers of Plaza Senayan, who are from the
middle to upper classes, to visit the cafes.

"But we also have to consider competitive prices on the menu,"
he said.

There is no fierce competition among the cafe operators
regarding pricing as each of them offers a wide range of food.
Therefore, visitors have various choices including Indonesian or
western or other kinds of food and drinks. With Rp 10,000, one
can have a plate of noodles or a sandwich and a cup of mineral
water.

Ade, an employee of a private company, said she often comes
there with her boyfriend because of the pleasant atmosphere.

The last time she went there she ordered beef barbecue for
only Rp 7,500. "It was good, but the portion was so small. I was
still hungry so I ordered fried cheese rice," she said. She paid
Rp 8,500 for the rice, and another Rp 6,500 for a glass of
"Fantastic Chocolate."

Before returning home, she dropped in at a tent, which sells
shoes, to get a pair she ordered two weeks ago for Rp 55,000.

However, you do not have to buy anything to experience the
nice atmosphere, play with the fountain and listen to the live
music. And there is a lot of space to sit and get relaxed around
the square while enjoying the entertainment. (icn/sim)