If last night you missed your favorite culinary crowd on Jl. Agus Salim in Central Jakarta, worry not. Vendors of the popular culinary center can now be found on Jl. Kampung Lima, a three-minute walk from their former location.
The new location looks even better. Around 80 brand new food stalls and 20 goods stalls are neatly arranged in two rows, and a long canopy is provided to protect visitors from heat and rain.
About 160 vendors from Jl. Agus Salim (popularly known as Jl. Sabang) used to alternate between day and night shifts on Jl. Kampung Lima.
"Don't worry about not being able to get your favorite dish. Just ask. You want roti cane *traditional indian bread* that used to be located near the traffi c light? It will now be at stall No. 54," said Sugeng, who sells coffee and instant noodles.
He said people could just ask security officers around the area if they did not know the new stall of their favorite food vendors.
Jl. Kampung Lima is a long alley that connects Jl. Sabang and Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Central Jakarta.
The relocation was implemented on Nov. 1, after the administration had fi nished preparing the new stalls on Jl. Kampung Lima. Many day vendors have started to run their businesses, although the night ones had yet to start.
Sugeng said most night vendors had agreed to take time off after being relocated.
"They will probably start occupying the stalls next week," he said.
Dedy, a salesman who often passed the area, said he was interested in dropping by after seeing several stalls opening. "I often pass this area and tried it out today. It's nice here. I like it."
A few day vendors on Jl. Kampung Lima are also new faces.
Andy, who sells roasted ribs and steak in one of the stalls, said he was not one of the vendors on Jl. Sabang, but had managed to register at the new center.
"I pay Rp 20,000 *US$2.1* a day *for rent*. Many people come here, so business is good."
Central Jakarta Mayor Sylviana Murni said the relocation of street vendors was to help ease the traffic.
"We just want to return the street to its function *as a main thoroughfare*. The solution was *to relocate the vendors to* Kampung Lima," she recently told the Post.
Sylvia said she had let the vendors arrange their own daily opening times.
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