Sunset Food Court : Kuta Bali

I\’m confused at times as to your judgment, Nick. Do you actually believe that this type of development on Sunset road is a good thing? So what - they sell food, not exactly in short supply in the area! In the mean time I\’m sure the investment will fail to pay off as most overly ambitious projects in the area do. And who\’s the target market? Bules - not me, baby, the less traffic congestion, noise, and pollution in my day, the better! Bottom line is this place will fail and another rice field becomes an abandoned commercial site - lovely, yes?????

As builder/developer I strongly believe in promoting progressive use of land and resources. And I believe the press should do the same!

David, from the picture and Nick’s description, this looks/sounds like a single ground level food market not unlike the famous hawker stalls in Singapore etc. Don’t forget that Bali enjoys a domestic tourist market that, along with the regional asian tourist influx, far outways the western visitors to the island each year. This type of eatery could be quite attractive to them, reminding them of home. Is Starbucks and MacDonalds primarily for the tourist or the local?
The people who are running these food outlets are most probably local Indonesian business people/families keeping their profits within the community at large. Perhaps we should be concerned with the development and promotion of French supermarkets and American fast food. Can ‘progressive use of land and resources’ in an area such as Sunset rd or even a rural village in Tabanan ever result in less traffic and pollution?
Just a few thoughts.

Geoff, You point is well recieved, and I don\\\’t mean to say that Western, or foriegn tourist, development is better. Rather that this particular project isn\\\’t worth promoting. There are many many outlets for locals to eat at and I love to join them! Although do little biz. From my perspective, this place is part of growing trend trying to appeal to both markets and failing at each, as in too $$$$ for locals and poorly planned for what Westerners are looking for. South Bali is slowing being consumed by commercial development most of which is done by Indonesians but not, and I could be wrong, by Balinese. Their basic Jakarta model is build it (cuz it\\\’s cheap to build and staff) and if fails, abandon it and hand a dikontract sign out front.

David, what you say is the ugly side of care-less developement. I have to agree with you in that respect. It is not a pretty sight to drive past vacant 2-3 level commercial blocks either side of a rice field with ‘for lease’ signs in front for what seems years. Those prices Nick quoted are high for Balinese locals when they can get nasi bunkus at a warung for around rp5000.
Being a low rise food court, if in your predicton it does fail and the sign is hung, it won’t be such an unsightly scar on the landscape.
I suppose we will just have to watch that space.