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Qingliang Yang's Grandfather Bakery in 19th Centuries (Source: Karikecingkul.blogspot.com)
Kalisat, East Java — A recent conversation on Facebook between local historian Mas Andi Kurniawan and community members has brought to light fascinating stories about Kalisat’s rich commercial and cultural heritage, revealing the town’s unique identity through its iconic businesses and family legacies.
The discussion centered around Depot 32 Kalisat’s owner, Tan Kok Ren, and the legendary Soponyono Bakery, which thrived during the 1970s and 1980s. Located beside Pak Soekarlan’s shop in front of the Kawedanan Kalisat office, Soponyono Bakery was a beloved fixture in the community. Mas Andi shared his personal connection to the bakery, noting that Tan Kok Fi, a friend from SMPN Kalisat, came from a family closely linked to the bakery. His father worked nearby at Perum Telekomunikasi (now PT TELKOM), which fostered early ties between their families.
The presence of bakeries in Kalisat also hints at European cultural influences, as bakeries traditionally accompanied European settlements in Indonesia. It is believed that bakeries existed in Kalisat as early as the 1920s, predating the establishment of Soponyono Bakery.
Tan Kok Ren (The Owner of Depot 32, where his restaurant right next to Njoo Hok Tien's Soy Sauce Factory)
(Source: Sudut Kalisat on Facebook)
Yang Qingliang's grandmother
(Source:Yang Qingliang on Facebook)
Yang Qingliang's Grandfather Soy Sauce Factory
(Source:Yang Qingliang on Facebook)
Adding to the rich tapestry of Kalisat’s history, Om Liang shared photos and stories from his family album dating back approximately 85 years. His grandfather, Njoo Thioe Hien, migrated from China to Kalisat in the late 19th century and founded a soy sauce factory. Unlike modern industrial operations, Njoo’s factory was modest—a wooden and bamboo house with large earthenware jars used for fermenting soybeans.
Njoo faced challenges with counterfeit soy sauce brands imitating his trademark. To combat this, he placed a photo of himself on the neck of every bottle, a tactic that successfully ended the forgery. Unfortunately, the factory operated for only one generation.
Om Liang also noted that Kalisat once had two major soy sauce producers: his grandfather’s factory and another owned by the Kwee family, who ran Toko Cemara next to Depot 32.
Historical records indicate that by 1898, just a year after the opening of Kalisat Station, three general stores were invited by local authorities to support the town’s growing economy. It was during this period that Njoo Thioe Hien arrived and launched his soy sauce business, contributing significantly to Kalisat’s commercial development.
All rights and photos belonged to Sudut Kalisat and related sources
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