So, once information of an attractive outdoor space – Kumulo in Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD), South Tangerang, Banten – began circulating among urbanites, visitors came flooding in.

Kumulo, which regards itself as an outdoor creative compound of curated micro-shops, first welcomed visitors in late July, followed by a soft opening in August.

The Jakarta Post visited the venue on a Friday afternoon in late July, and it was a pleasant visit with not too many visitors.

Everyone was wearing masks and keeping their distance.

There were some short lines in front of an ice cream parlor, beverage shop and bakery, but everything seemed to be under control.

Even Sunny Fat Day, a micro-shop owned by young celebrity chef William Gozali, was rather quiet.

Keep your distance: An entrance fee in the form of a Rp 50,000 voucher applies to visitors of Kumulo in order to limit number of people in the compound and ensure physical distancing is maintained. (JP/Muthi Kautsar)

The Post took the opportunity to buy the shop’s truffle gyudon, and ate it in an empty space just a few meters from the shop. And as we dug into the meal, served in a paper bowl, not too many people passed by. Among the few that did, some were walking their dogs.

The peaceful late afternoon ended with a gorgeous view of the sunset.

However, as it turned out, this would not always be the scene at Kumulo, especially given the nature of many urbanites in Greater Jakarta who litter and damage property.

Come August, the situation had become much different – so much so that Kumulo’s management had to charge an entrance fee in the form of Rp 50,000 (US$ 3.35) vouchers, in which Rp 35,000 could be spent at any shop in the compound, with the remaining Rp 15,000 going to site maintenance.

Co-founder of Kumulo, Scarlete Moniaga, said that the management team had no choice but to impose the entrance fee in August, because the place was being visited by up to 6,000 people at one point.

“It was horrifying, [seeing] 6,000 people coming on the weekend [to this 4,100-square-meter space]. We ended up collecting too much garbage because many of these people littered. Our garden lamps were broken, our grass died and some cactus trees fell out of their pots,” Scarlete told the Post.

With the entrance fee applied, the number of visitors was reduced to around 2,000 on weekends, with groups of visitors taking turns entering. And now, on weekdays, there are only about 400 visitors at a time in Kumulo.

“Visitors can only stay for an hour or less,” said Scarlete, adding that there were ushers who made sure of this.

Other rules are also applied in Kumulo, including a ban on cameras.

“If people bring cameras, they will stay for a long time inside the compound. But once the PSBB are eased, it will be alright [to bring cameras], although people will still be prohibited from taking product shots, because for that purpose they will have to [obtain permission from] the management,” Scarlete explained, referring to those who attempted to make use of the compound as a commercial shooting location without permission.

She also said that the management were questioned about the camera restriction, and many people who brought cameras reasoned that they could help Kumulo become viral on social media.

“Please don’t get us viral,” pleaded Scarlete. “This is not the right time to make this place viral. Because if this place has to be shut down, think about the shopkeepers who will lose their jobs.”

Scarlete said she was pleased that Kumulo was hiring people at a time when most companies were firing their staff, as she and her fellow co-founders continue to ensure that the place complies with PSSB rules.