WEST JAVA —-— Romi Guandi (35), a small business owner, used to stand for hours behind his small stall on a street corner in Cibiru Hilir Village, Bandung Regency. In front of him, vehicles passed by without many stopping. Although the location was strategic, busy, and had great customer potential, the dusty open space, lack of comfortable seating, no roof, and lack of comfort meant that many people chose to just pass by. Occasionally, customers would stop to buy something. However, if it rained, they would slowly leave one by one.
“Many people pass by, but few stop,” Romi recalled softly to Dompet Dhuafa during the inauguration of the Nusadaya West Java Food Court, located in the Bumi Harapan Complex, Cibiru Hilir Village, Cileunyi District, Bandung Regency, on Wednesday (01/21/2026).
Since 2017, Romi has pinned his hopes on small rice rolls called sushi. This choice was born from a simple thing, namely his love of snacking and his desire to offer healthier snacks. But the journey to grow the business was not as easy as it sounds.
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Romi had to search for raw materials that were once difficult to find, endure the scorching sun and rain that often ruined his chances of selling that day, and face the views of people who considered sushi to be foreign food, even raw.
“When it’s hot, it’s quiet, and when it rains, it’s even quieter,” he said softly.
Often, an entire day would pass with barely any income. However, Romi persevered. Not only as a merchant, but also as an art teacher who divided his time between teaching children to draw and paint, and selling to support his family.
What keeps him going is one small thing: when customers return. This means that he feels that his cooking is appreciated and enjoyed by his customers.
“When someone likes it and comes back, all my fatigue disappears,” he said with a smile.
Dompet Dhuafa saw something that many people might have overlooked. The great potential behind this customer-unfriendly location. The area is strategic, crowded, and surrounded by community activities. The only thing missing is a comfortable place.
Through the Nusadaya Food Court Program, Dompet Dhuafa is building a new space for the dreams of small business owners. Not only for Romi, but also for 18 other MSMEs that have been selling in similar conditions.
The simple stalls have been transformed into a clean and well-organized food court. There are comfortable seats, a prayer room, clean toilets, and a space for customers to stop by without hesitation.
“Now people feel more at home. More people want to stop by,” said Romi.
Slowly but surely, his merchandise is no longer just glanced at, but sought after. From 30–40 servings on a normal day, to twice that amount on weekends. From an uncertain income, his turnover can now reach around Rp5 million per month.
Not only did he get a place, Romi also received business assistance for two years and capital assistance, an important provision to help him move forward with more confidence and certainty.
For Romi, this food court has become a space to regain faith that even small businesses deserve recognition.
“Now, selling feels more peaceful,” he said. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Riza Muthohar
Editor: Dhika