G

ading Serpong, a residential, business and education center in Tangerang regency, is enjoying increasing popularity among hipsters due to scores of new eateries in the area, making it a potential culinary haven along with the likes of Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) in North Jakarta.

Many new eateries have been grabbing attention for their signature dishes and trendy decor, despite their location in moderate-sized ruko (shophouses).

Madre Arbanat, a café in the Crystal ruko complex, has developed colorful burgers and desserts featuring animal faces to make it a favorite haunt of local residents, particularly housewives and youngsters.

'€œWe don'€™t specifically tap into any particular circle [of customers]. Nonetheless, the café is usually packed with housewives in the afternoons and youngsters in the evenings,'€ said Melisa, 33, who opened the business in August with a college friend who shares her interest in cooking.

According to her, the café, located in a 25-square-meter shop house, attracted around 50 visitors daily, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.

Melisa added that she and her friend had chosen the Crystal ruko complex because they preferred a location near to their houses, which are also in Gading Serpong. Thus, they could still take care of their children while they were operating the café.

She added that they initially did not think about the township becoming the next popular spot for eateries.

Angeline Lauwrence, 30, had a similar opinion about her coffee shop, Turning Point, in the Golden ruko complex.

She said that she and her husband chose the complex because of its strategic location, in front of a school and near office centers, without any expectations that it would gain popularity as a new destination for foodies.

Nonetheless, Angeline acknowledged that demand for coffee shops in the area was high. She added that Turning Point could serve at least 100 cups of coffee and other beverages on weekdays while it could make up to 200 cups on weekends.

Another businessperson in Gading Serpong, Christine, echoed Angeline, saying that cafés, coffee shops and restaurants had been mushrooming since she bought her ruko on Graha Boulevard in 2013.

'€œWhen I bought my ruko, the other ruko in the Graha Boulevard complex were still empty,'€ said Christine, who has let her children use the ruko since August as a coffee shop, named Scandinavian. '€œThey are now occupied. Some have even become popular eateries.'€

Visitor Yohan Sutanto, 22, appreciated the increasing number of eateries in Gading Serpong, saying they had added to the list of hip places for youngsters in Tangerang regency.

According to him, Tangerang regency previously had numerous eateries selling good food and beverages but lacked attractive places where young patrons could take pictures to share on social media. Thus, he often used to drive many kilometers from his house in Perumnas 2, Tangerang regency, to PIK just to hang out with friends in eateries with trendy offerings.

Gading Serpong residents Herry Gregorius Binsar and Malida Ruth Situmorang, both 29, also acknowledged that the township now had more options for hanging out.

Nevertheless, the couple predicted that demand for eateries in the area would decrease as soon as new culinary spots appeared elsewhere.

'€œThey [eateries in Gading Serpong] are just like other usual eateries, which will disappear from the buzz as soon as people find other hipper locations,'€ Herry said. '€œIt'€™s just euphoria.'€ (agn)