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.