Some restaurants to remain open on Idul Fitri holiday
JAKARTA (JP): Idul Fitri, the post-fasting Moslem festival, in Jakarta is characterized by deserted streets, households without maids, and closed shops, because millions of its residents leave for their hometowns in the rural areas.
Most restaurants are closed, especially on the first day of the holidays which this year falls on Sunday.
But this year some restaurant owners have announced business as usual, even on the first day of Idul Fitri.
Among them are Country Kitchen Restaurant, in Pondok Indah and Taman Anggrek, Slipi; American Chilis Restaurant in the Sarinah Building on Jl. MH Thamrin; Planet Hollywood on Jl. Gatot Subroto; TGI Friday in the Ascott Building on Jl. Kebun Kacang Raya, not so far from Hotel Indonesia; Handayani Restaurant on Jl. Matraman Raya; Sizzler and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).
MacDonald's will open its restaurant in the Sarinah Building, Jl. MH Thamrin, on Sunday but its neighbors the Hard Rock Cafe and Amigos will only reopen on the second day of Idul Fitri, Monday.
The restaurants will open because of their commitment to offering the best service to the public, say owners. They said hotels and hospitals have set good examples by remaining open on religious holidays, so restaurants should too.
Business over Idul Fitri was good in past years for Country Kitchen and Planet Hollywood and they hope it will be the same this year.
KFC said business usually "was not so bad" on the first and second day of Idul Fitri. "But big crowds came to eat here after the third day," said KFC regional operational manager Ferry Yo.
American Chilis Restaurant said it opened on Idul Fitri because its of commitment to the public and because many of its customers were foreigners.
Restaurant owners also said most of their employees lived in Jakarta, so there was no problem with the working schedule.
"During recruitment, we explain to trainees that the restaurant opens on holidays," said Country Kitchen Personnel Manager, Jimmy S. Kosih.
"Luckily, most of our employees live with their parents in Jakarta, so they do not have to celebrate Idul Fitri in the provinces," Jimmy said.
American Chilis gives holiday leave priority to married employees only, said the restaurant's PR officer, Indraswari.
The Hard Rock Cafe lets its employees enjoy their holidays with their families in their hometowns, some of them go to Sumatra, said its Personnel Manager, Sonny Pramoe.
The Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood and TGI Friday said they would not serve alcoholic drinks on the first two days of Idul Fitri.
"This is in line with the city administration's rule," they said. American Chilis will serve a non-alcoholic "Lebaran Cocktail," the PR officer said.
Meanwhile, newspaper agencies promised yesterday deliveries to subscribers would be smooth despite the fact that many news sellers and deliverers were on leave.
Prapto of the Witonako agency in Rawamangun, East Jakarta, said some of his 40 boys had asked for holidays. "But everything is okay since they have their own reserves. I mean they hire friends to substitute for them. This way the distribution of newspapers and magazines to the around 1,500 subscribers will be stable."
Edi Nantes of the Hero Agency in West Jakarta said most of his newsboys took only two-days off, Feb. 10 and Feb. 11. "So, it will be no problem for me." He said one newsboy could handle between 500 and 600 subscribers.
Teguh of News Agency in South Jakarta, said his boys usually let him know days before taking leave. "I always find a substitute. So I can guarantee that the distribution of newspapers and magazines will not be affected." He hires 134 newsboys, and 70 percent of them celebrate Idul Fitri in their hometowns.
Teguh has three offices, on Jl. Panglima Polim, Pasar Minggu and Srengseng, and the coverage area includes, Simprug, Permata Hijau and Depok with more than 1,500 subscribers. (13/sur)