After Closing Lumiere, Ashanty is Ready to Open a Noodle Business to Save Loyal Employees

"We informed you about this 2-3 months ago, so we let you know that we are closing on July 31, and many have already found jobs, thank God," said Ashanty when met in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta (31/7/2025).

Although many have found other jobs, there are still a number of core employees who have been loyal to him since the beginning of Lumiere. For them, Ashanty is brainstorming to create new job opportunities by utilizing one of the locations that is still under lease.

"The place here I am still renting until next September. So our plan is, I don’t want to lay off my remaining employees, it’s fine for those who have found jobs. We want to make chicken noodles," she revealed.

This plan was enthusiastically welcomed by its loyal employees, who even encouraged Ashanty to start a new venture soon. The idea to sell bakmi came from many people's requests for 'Bakmi Uten' that she had promoted but had never been sold officially.

"They said, 'Mom, let's make something again,' like that. It means, 'This place is still here. What should we make?' So, 'Alright, let's just make it.' Now, for now, the only thing that comes to mind is bakmi because people always ask about Bakmi Uten, 'When will it be sold?'" she explained.

Interestingly, this bakmi business will be run with a different concept than before. Ashanty appointed some of her loyal employees to be partners in this new business. "So, this bakmi is really mine, the investors are my team from earlier. Those few people. Not investors, they are, sorry, what? Partners, sorry. The investor is me. They are the partners," she said.

With a new spirit, Ashanty and her team have started preparations, including taste tests for the menu that will be sold. She revealed that besides noodles, there will also be a mixed ice menu ready to delight customers' taste buds.

"Earlier we had some tests too. Yes, maybe we, and I, people know that when I sell food it's always closed not because it's gone, to put it bluntly, it's like there are no buyers, you know. So, it seems like we will be selling noodles," she concluded.