T

he Tangerang municipality is attempting to improve its residents’ economic status as well promote the city’s products through a newly launched culinary and souvenir center.

Utilizing the abandoned Rawa Bokor elementary school on Jl. Husein Sastranegara, Benda subdistrict, Tangerang, Banten, four of a dozen classrooms in the two-story building now houses a variety of stalls selling food and goods made by locals.

The micro, small and medium enterprises, under the auspices of the Benda Solid Bersatu Cooperative in Benda subdistrict, independently manage the place.

Julaidah, the cooperative’s supervisor, told The Jakarta Post that one of the products on offer was Tangerang-style batik benda, which is a type of batik that has a benda (jackfruit) leaf motif.

“In the past, there were a lot of benda trees in [Benda subdistrict],” she said.

Aside from the souvenirs, various local delicacies — including pecel ayam (fried chicken and rice with sambal), chicken noodles, nasi goreng mengkudu (Betawi-style noni fried rice), pecak (fish doused in coconut milk and sambal), laksa (rice noodles with coconut milk soup) and selendang mayang (dessert made from rice flour and palm sugar) — are also sold at the center.

The similarities between Jakarta and Tangerang delicacies were believed have come from the Betawi people who also inhabited Tangerang, Julaidah said.

The center houses 52 stalls selling food and other goods.

Tangerang resident Eci, 21, decided to stop by for lunch.

“I expected there would be a variety of food on offer in a comfortable setting,” she said, adding that the center needed a more modern look rather than just placing tables and booths next to a yellow and red wall.

Responding to the feedback, Julaidah said the cooperative wanted to make it more attractive because they had long dreamed of establishing their own culinary and souvenir center.

“This is only the second day. Off course, we want [the building to be revamped],” she said, adding that the cooperative were planning to add more attractions by hosting music performances and providing Wi-Fi to attract more visitors.

Julaidah added that the sellers were focusing on the quality of their products first. “I believe if we have good products, everyone will come.”

Benda subdistrict head Teddy Roestendi said there should be improvement in all aspects, including the products’ presentation and venue layout, citing that the majority of sellers were first-time entrepreneurs.

“Should this project succeed, they will probably open similar centers elsewhere. Like a baby, it must learn to crawl first and then walk,” Teddy added.