Local celebrities enjoy robust business in sidewalk cafes
Local celebrities enjoy robust business in sidewalk cafes
Text and photos by Arief Suhardiman
JAKARTA (JP): "Can I take a picture with you?" a child asked
Kiki Fatmala, an Indonesian starlet who owns a sidewalk cafe in
the National Monument (Monas) area of Central Jakarta.
The camera flashed and the child smiled broadly. She was
delighted to get the chance to pose with the star of Si Manis
Jembatan Ancol (The Sweet Ghost of Ancol Bridge), a TV comedy
series loaded with mysticism.
"About fifty fans ask me to pose for photos with them every
night," Kiki said while serving guests in her packed cafe.
As a good hostess, she willingly joins the impromptu photo
sessions in between preparing meals and serving her guests.
She is only one of many artists who have followed the current
trend of running an open air cafe on the streets of Jakarta.
The chance to see celebrities in the flesh -- and to pose for
pictures with them -- is one of the main attractions of the new
wave of cafes. The relaxed, comfortable atmosphere is another
factor that draws visitors.
Every weekend, thousands of people throng street cafes in the
Monas area and in parts of Central and South Jakarta.
The new cafes in the Monas area contrast sharply with long
established food outlets in the park, which cater to the lower
end of the market. Vendors who have been there for years are now
facing slow business.
"It is hard to sell food here. People always want celebrities
to serve their meals," said Sabar, a fried rice vendor from
Jember in East Java.
Some vendors have expressed concern over the city
administration's decision to allow street cafes to operate on
their traditional stomping ground.
"They should not be here. Nobody wants to buy our meals now,"
said Arief, another vendor who has been selling fried rice in the
Monas area for 15 years.
Arief sells a plate of fried rice for Rp 3,000 -- well below
the going price in the artists' cafes.
Owners of the street cafes deny the allegation that they have
stolen the vendors' market, saying that they cater to a different
type of person.
"Look at the kind of cuisine we serve. The price is much
higher than what they (the street vendors) offer," designer Itang
Yunasz said.
Itang's food stall specializes in Italian food such as pizza
and pasta. He charges his customers an average of Rp 15,000 for a
meal.
Kiki agreed, saying: "Our guests mostly come from the middle
and upper classes," adding that she charged Rp 6,500 for a plate
of fried rice and a bottle of tea.