The mom-and-dad markets of the world are disappearing, but Kumis Aseh and are standing strong against the tide. They own and operate the same side of the road for the last two decades. The loving couple, who have worked side by side every morning, rain or shine since the days of Soeharto not intend to give way to the big names of international channels.
If it is a bright white ground and right Häagen-Dazs ice cream coolers you seek, Aseh Kumis and can not help you. But if it is piled high and fresh vegetables authentic ingredients for Indonesian traditional food dishes strung wooden ceiling, then this is the place. The food stand has a soul. There is no union, no air conditioning. Just pyramids of bright orange carrots, calloused limes batteries and dusty ginger knuckles stacked like rubble against an iconoclastic scale. The only thing missing is a sempoa abacus. A line of ants running along the sides of the wooden walls tired that customers come and go, crossing on the articles of crumpled grocery lists or enjoying a mid-morning snack of sneaking krupuk and iced tea.
There is a constant stream of customers. Most are greeted by name, everyone with a smile. Pleasantries are exchanged, inside jokes are indexed and goods are bought, but that money changes hands. Both Kumis Aseh and were trailing behind the counter and help customers since before sunrise, but they smile and greet everyone as if they were ancient Javanese royalty.
This is a family affair. Kumis and Aseh opened their one-stop grocery store just after their marriage. They live in the back and their store roadside, next to Gatot Subroto, Mega Kuningan, was so successful that their children have opened a second branch in Pasar Benhil.
But as Kumis Pak says it is not all easy. "We open every morning at 5 am and by three in the afternoon I headed to Bekasi to pick up supplies for the next day," he said between bagging half a kilo of eggplant and handful of spices. "Then I'm back here in 21 hours before sleep, then do it again."
"Prices are still up arrow and down," said Aseh. "Before, it was jengkol . Then it was beef. Now it is tim. We act like we're used to, but we're not," she said with a shrug. "We have to make money, so it is difficult to explain to customers who rely on us that our prices should go up."
And while Aseh explains the complications of running a small business with a smile, she cautiously admits that sometimes she wishes she could slip into the back room, where she and her husband lived for the past 20 years, and take a few days off.
"the economy requires that we remain open all hours. We have to compete with all the channels around," Aseh continues. "If you want to make money, you have to work for hours like that."
Aseh pass the hours with a smile on his face, based on good humor jokes and some jokes here and there to keep everyone smiling with her. "Customers come and go and my husband and I spent a pleasant day. We like to see new people, and sometimes new friends are the highlight of the day."