Some restaurants to remain open on Idul Fitri holiday

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)