SEAToday.com, Jakarta - Who doesn't know Sederhana Restaurant? Its branches are everywhere, offering the delicious and addictive taste of Minangkabau cuisine. Its owner, Haji Bustamam, has experienced the ups and downs of a long journey in building Sederhana Restaurant until it reached its current success. Here's the story.

Minang people and the culture of migrating are inseparable. This tendency arises because the number of Minang people living outside their homeland is increasing. However, migration never has a single reason.

The most common reason given is the matrilineal system among the Minang people. This is a kinship system that prioritizes the maternal line. Men are considered not to inherit property or heirlooms. This condition makes a man feel that migrating is the most logical choice to maintain self-esteem. Those who choose not to migrate are sometimes labeled as lazy or unemployed.

In other words, those who choose not to migrate are considered to have a miserable life in the village. They are not special because there are no great economic opportunities in the village that can support a comfortable and prosperous life.

"In the end, it seems that the socio-economic potential of village communities (in Minangkabau) is limited to provide opportunities to gain that self-esteem. Especially when prestige becomes associated with wealth. That was the time that Radjab (a well-known Indonesian journalist) called the rise of the merchant class," said the literary figure Goenawan Mohamad in his "Catatan Pinggir" column in Tempo magazine titled "Pemberontakan Radjab", July 12, 1986.

From Odd Jobs to Success

Haji Bustamam's decision to leave his hometown was a logical step towards a better life. Born in Lubuak Jantan on September 11, 1942, he experienced firsthand the harsh realities of poverty.

He felt that Lubuak Jantan, located in Tanah Datar, West Sumatra, couldn't offer him the prosperity he desired. His mother passed away when he was young, forcing him to live with his grandmother. His father left to seek a better life in Riau, leaving the family to fend for themselves.

The lack of opportunities in their village led to financial hardship. Bustamam's family struggled to make ends meet, and he was forced to drop out of elementary school to help his father work in the fields. However, farming wasn't something he enjoyed.

Seeking better prospects, the family moved to Jambi, leaving his father behind. Life in Jambi was initially challenging. With limited education, Bustamam took on various odd jobs, including selling fried bananas, boiled corn, working as a conductor, a street vendor, and even a dishwasher.

His job as a dishwasher at a Padang restaurant called "Sederhana" proved to be a turning point. Working long hours from morning to night, he gained valuable insights into the restaurant business. Despite the hardships and his gambling addiction, Bustamam persevered.

“I see all of this as stepping stones. Everything I did was an experience, a lesson learned. These experiences motivated me to succeed,” Haji Bustamam shared in an interview on the Kick Andy show on June 22, 2013.

His time as a dishwasher provided him with the knowledge and skills he needed to start his own restaurant. He learned about startup costs, management, and other essential aspects of the business. Bustamam considers this experience one of the most valuable in his career.

Opening the Sederhana Restaurant

Bustamam's initial ventures in Jakarta weren't immediately successful. His earnings were modest, barely enough to support his growing family. In 1970, he made the bold decision to move to Jakarta, drawn by the promise of a better life.

Undeterred by Jakarta's reputation as a cutthroat city, Bustamam embarked on a five-day journey to the capital, using various modes of transportation. He started a small business selling cigarettes in Matraman, East Jakarta, but the lack of a fixed location and intense competition made it difficult to sustain.

When his cigarette business began to falter, Bustamam and his wife decided to try their hand at the food business, specifically Padang cuisine. With a meager capital of 27,000 rupiah and the support of his relatives, they opened a small food stall in Pasar Benhil in 1972. They named it "Sederhana" (Simple), inspired by a Padang restaurant where Bustamam had once worked as a dishwasher.

Initially, business was slow. However, a chance encounter with a cook from Solok changed everything. Bustamam was so impressed with the man's cooking that he asked for the recipes. With the cook's blessing, Bustamam incorporated these new dishes into his menu.

As his food gained popularity, Bustamam's business began to thrive. He moved to a larger stall in Pasar Benhil and eventually opened a second branch in Roxy a year later. His restaurant chain continued to expand, with branches opening in Tanah Abang, Rawamangun, and other locations.

By the 1980s, Haji Bustamam had achieved significant success. He had a comfortable home, a car, and had even performed the Hajj pilgrimage. The Sederhana restaurant chain continued to grow, eventually reaching over 100 branches across Indonesia.

Haji Bustamam's story is a proof to the power of hard work and perseverance. His journey from a struggling street vendor to a successful restaurateur is an inspiration to many, showing that with determination, even the most humble beginnings can lead to great achievements.