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Property giants reimagine open, green retail spaces for hope
New retail spaces contain shopping outlets, restaurants and coffee shops, as well as open spaces for better air circulation – a must during the COVID-19 health crisis.
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W
hile physical interaction is of utmost importance during the pandemic, many people are trying to keep their businesses running, partly to ensure their businesses’ very survival post-coronavirus.
Meanwhile, some businesses in Jakarta are not merely surviving, but thriving during the nationwide health emergency.
Among the many signs that indicate this is the new retail spaces that have been popping up all over the capital. These new retail spaces contain shopping outlets, restaurants and coffee shops, as well as open spaces for better air circulation – a must during the COVID-19 health crisis.
SCBD welcomes ASHTA
South Jakarta, for instance, saw the mid-November launch of ASHTA in the Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD).
ASHTA means “eight” in Sanskrit and refers to its location in SCBD District 8, as well as refers to the eight elements for achieving a good life, according to a statement made available to The Jakarta Post.
“ASHTA is here to become a destination at the heart of the capital for those who are seeking new things [and are] in need of a comfortable place for nurturing a relationship with their community,” said COO David Hilman of ASRI, a subsidiary of property giant Agung Sedayu Group (ASG).
As part of ASRI, which focuses on premium lifestyle brands, ASHTA is now home to many lifestyle establishments such as Maison Kitsune and Café Kitsune, The Gourmet by Ranch Market, %Arabica, Ground Zero by Common Ground, The Tasting Room and MASSHIRO&Co.
Prior to its formal opening, ASHTA had already played host to 2019 events by the Brightspot Market and the Urban Sneakers Society, and its November launch was marked with the creation of the “Wall of Art” by a group of young artists, including Rato Tanggela, Dhado Wacky and Mahaputra Vito.
Jessa Setiabudi, ASRI’s leasing deputy general manager, said ASHTA aimed to celebrate the lives and passions of artists, designers, culinary professionals, retailers and many others.
“[All] will stand together and support ASHTA,” she said.
“In the end, we believe in hope. We accept this year’s situation of going backward as an opportunity to find new things to resurrect,” said David.
Urban Farm, Pantjoran PIK arrive in North Jakarta
In the capital’s Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) residential area, Urban Farm, a farm-based recreation and education destination, is among the newest additions to the portfolio of ASG, in partnership with Salim Group.
Urban Farm occupies a 2,300-square-meter area that surrounds its visitors with greenery while offering up GIOI restaurant, Toby’s Estate coffee shop and Kinetic Farm, a research farm and eco living shop.
CEO Natalia Kusumo of ASG’s division 2 hotels and malls, said in a statement that Urban Farm wanted to give the capital’s residents a new green space to enjoy.
“Apart from being an environmentally friendly destination, Urban Farm also wants to provide education access […] to the source of the foods [we eat],” she said.
ASG retail and commercial COO Sawitri Setiawan added that visitors to Urban Farm could learn about farming and take home their freshly harvested produce.
A short walk from Urban Farm is Pantjoran PIK, an open-air culinary hub that houses food and beverage (F&B) outlets offering up street food, Peranakan dishes and traditional cuisines that it claims cannot be found anywhere else in the city.
According to Natalia, Pantjoran PIK aimed to create new opportunities for local entrepreneurs, especially small and medium F&B businesses. She added that ASG hoped the new facility would “absorb new workers through our tenants”.
Pantjoran PIK said in a statement that it had filled 100 percent of its retail space. It counts among its tenants F&B outlets that has existed for more than three generations, such as Wong Fu Kie, Kopi Es Tak Kie, Kari Lam, Ponggol Nasi Lemak and Es Pluit Acen.
With such open concepts that offer room to walk and breathe, Jakartans can still keep to the physical distancing rules while getting out of the house. But don’t forget your masks!
