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ormer tenants have returned to the Pondok Indah Market in Pondok Pinang, South Jakarta, which is attracting more customers since being given a four floor, modern face-lift.

Thirty-three-year-old clothes seller Zubaidah said the market now looked far more modern than it did three years ago, adding that its four stories were equipped with four escalators, similar to malls across Jakarta.

'€œThree years ago, this market was dirty, stinky and full of mud. I really like the market'€™s new look because it is clean and more comfortable for us to sell our goods,'€ Zubaidah, who comes from Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, said.

The market resumed operations on Jan. 6.

Syaiful, a 29-year-old greengrocer, said he hoped the modern look of the market would attract more people to pay a visit.

'€œWith more shoppers coming in, I hope I can earn more money,'€ he said.

Muhammad Hassan, who bought a cell phone charger in the market, said he was pleasantly surprised by the modern makeover of Pondok Indah Market, which was guarded by a sufficient number of security guards.

However, he questioned the market'€™s future as of the four floors, only the lower-ground floor was full of vendors. '€œThe basement is very quiet, while the first and second floors have no trading going on at all,'€ Hasan said.

The market'€™s property manager, Rukino, explained that only the 606 square meter lower-ground floor was currently full as its 121 kiosks and 60 shanties were occupied by former tenants, who had temporarily relocated while the market was rebuilt.

He said 65 percent of the 90 kiosks on the 464 square meter basement had been sold and the remaining 35 percent had been leased, but only a few of the vendors had started operating.

'€œThe basement is intended to be a center of Muslim fashion,'€ he said. '€œWe expect trading activities on this floor to increase significantly during the upcoming fasting month'€.

The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan is expected to start in late June.

Rukino said the first and second floors had no trading going on yet because a few finishing touches were being completed.

The 554 square meter first floor, equipped with 80 kiosks, had been allocated for shoe and bag vendors, while the 575 square meter second floor, equipped with 70 kiosks, would house a food court and electronic goods outlets, he said.

'€œOf the 80 kiosks on the first floor, 12 have been booked,'€ he said. '€œFive of the 70 kiosks on the second floor also have been booked.'€

Rukino said the new Pondok Indah Market, which also has a parking lot for 25 cars and 300 motorcycles, was aimed at people from all income brackets.

He said visitors to the market would be able to enjoy high levels of safety as it was guarded by 22 security guards and equipped with 33 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

'€œWe expect trading to be in full swing on all four floors by the end of this year,'€ he added. (alz)