Running Coffee Kiosks in Monday Market (Senen) for 50 Years, beneath Historical Fire Disaster
reported by: Liu Setiawan
Jakarta, August 1, 2025/Indonesia Media – One of the coffee kiosks located in Building 3 of the historic grocery market in Central Jakarta (Pasar Senen, literally meaning Monday Market) happens to be a legend, its owner is Djaya Gunawan (Ang Kim Giok. He admitted that he tends to forget after the fire (disaster). Such incidents have occurred numerous times, including during the tenure of the late Ali Sadikin (Governor of Jakarta; 1966-1977). The most recent disaster occurred in 2016, destroying parts of Senen Market, including Djaya’s coffee kiosk. The market has experienced ten fires in the past: in January 1974, November 1996, January 2003, November 2016, and January 2017. Following renovations, Senen 3 Market has been revitalized and has accommodated 3,531 stallholders since January 2018. “There was some debris left from the fire, but it was all in the back. My kiosk is right opposite the power plant (electricity board) at the bus station/terminal. I can still see the debris because its exact location is right at the entrance to the regular buses and bus lane,” said Djaya.
Historical sequence of becoming coffeeman in the old Monday Market and nowadays also covers the changing brand of his coffee kiosk. Since he has spent around fifty years running a coffee kiosk in Monday Market, he has opened the kiosk in Block III (three), IV (four) and V (five). The kiosk was previously known (by customers) as ‘Seluruh Kawan’ (literally, All Friends). After the fire disaster in 1996, his kiosk was totally burned. He tried to rebuild and reopen the kiosk, but decided to change the brand. He chose ‘Kopi Nusantara’ (literally, archipelagic coffee) for the new brand, and stopped putting the old brand. “I am sure, the new brand will create a new meaning, new spirit after we suffered from a big loss due to the fire disaster. I am still courageous, confident and selling coffee from all provinces throughout the archipelago. I am optimistic as the number of coffee shops in Jakarta and other cities such as Bogor, Bekasi, Tangerang have mushroomed in recent years. But the biggest market is Jakarta, as sipping coffee in some cozy coffee shops is a part of Jakarta’s big city life. Indonesia has an abundant supply of coffee. I buy and sell coffee from many provinces, including Gayo (Aceh province), Sidikalang (North Sumatra province), Bajawa (NTT Province) and so on,” said Djaya who was born 85 years ago in Jakarta.
After 50 years running a coffee kiosk, he can see that coffee culture in big cities usually goes hand in hand with lifestyle. Coffee culture in big cities like Jakarta, Bandung, people always need to find, wish to visit the place where to sip and savor. As one of the world’s largest coffee producers, Indonesia offers a rich coffee heritage that thrives in Jakarta’s bustling cafe scene. “Coffee is not only a commodity for me, but also a passion also. I still cannot forget when I started to run a coffee kiosk in Senen. I was 35 years old (in 1974), I helped my father in law run his coffee kiosk in Monday Market. But he finally sold out (the kiosk) to me. He had many kiosks at that time. The kiosk of my father in law at that time (1970s) was erected exactly in the bus terminal (at Monday market). When the fire burned out the kiosk, we moved to another block. “The historical sequence of becoming a coffeeman (in Monday Market) is a reflection of my life,” he said. (LS/IM)
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