A History of Orion Bakery Blitar
The tale of Oorion Bakery: A Legacy Baked in TimePicture Blitar in 1938. A sleepy town under the shadow of Dutch colonial rule, where the air hums with the chatter of markets and the clatter of horse-drawn carriages along Jalan Merdeka. In this bustling yet quaint corner of Est Java, a young couple, Njoto Harsono and Setianingsih, arrive with a dream as warm and simple as the bread they’re destined to bake. They’ve just married, their hearts full of hope, and Njoto carries a secret weapon: the art of breadmaking, learned from his brother in Solo.
With a modest shop at Jalan Merdeka No. 146, they open the doors to Orion Bakery, named after the constellation that shines like a promise in the night sky. The early days are tough. Blitar is a blend of cultures- Dutch officers, Javanese locals, and Chinese mechants-and bread is a luxury, not a staple.
But Njoto’s hands work magic. His roti semir, slathered with butter and sliced into soft, pillowy layers, wins over the Dutch Knil soldiers. His roti tawar, golden and fragrant, becomes a morning ritual for families. Setjaningsih, with her sharp mind and warm smile, greets customers, her laughter mingling with the scent of freshly baked loaves. Their tiny shop becomes a beacon, drawing people to linger over coffee and stories.
They are not just selling bread; they’re weaving themselves into Blitar’s hearbeat. Then comes the storm of history. The Japanese occupation sweepps throught, and flour becomes scarce, rationed like whispers of freedom. Yet Njoto and Setjaningsih adapt, crafting smaller loaves, sometimes mixing in local ingredients to keep the ovens alive. Theirresillence mirrors Blitar itself, a town that bends but never breaks.
When Iindonesia declares independence in 1945, Orion Bakery stands as a quiet witness, it’s bread now fueling the dreams of a free nation. By 1957, the couple’s bard work pays off. They move across the street to Jalan Merdeka No. 115 a larger space where the clatter of baking tins echoes from a proper productions room. Their children grow up with flour-dusted hands, but it’s Hartanto, their third son, who inherits the oven’s glow.
They say his name was chosen under the stars-Orion’s belt, with it’s there bright jewels, seemed to whisper “Shen”, the Chinese word for three. Or maybe it was Hartanto’s quiet determination, honed at Airlangga University’s economics faculty, that made him the one to carry the legacy forwad. Under Hartanto, Orion Bakery becomes more than a shops, it’s a time capsule. The roti motor, a sweet, fried delight with crispy edges, dances on the tongues of children chasing the bakery’s bicycle vendors through Blitar’s alleys.The roti podeng, rich and nostalgic feels like a hug from the past.
Hartanto holds fast to his patent’s recipes-no preservatives, just honest ingredients. ‘Bread should taste like love,” he’d say, and Blitars agrees, lining up daily for their fix. The years roll on, and the world changes. Motorbikes replace bicycles, and neon signs light up Jalan Merdeka. But Orion remains a constant, its wooden counters worn smooth by decades of hands exchanging coins for warm loaves.
By 1018, Hartanto’s childrens, including Lani Ekawati, step in, blending tradition with a modern twist. The transform the shop into Orion Bakery and Cofee House, where you can sink into a sofa, sip coffee and bite into a roti semir while jazz hums in the background. The terrace opens to the street, and on weekends, live music spills out pulling in young couples and old timers alike. Yet Orion never forgets its roots.
The bakery’s walls, lined with black-an-white photos, tell the story: a family that survived empires, wars, and time, all while kneading dough and sharing warmth. Today, as you step into Orion Bakery at Jalam Merdeka No.115, the aroma of dadar gulung, klepon, and fresh roti pizza wraps around you like a memory. The vendors still pedal through Blitar, their baskets brimming with treats starting at Rp5,000.
From 7 a.m. To 9 p.m., the doors stay open, welcoming all locals grabbing breakfast, tourists chasing nostalgia, or curious souls like you, drawn by a story baked over eight decades. Orion Bakery isn’t just a place; it’s Blitar’s soul, preserved in every crumb. As you bite into a roti montor, still warm from the oven, you can almost hear Njoto’s voice, whispering through the years, “This is home”. And under the Blitar sky, where Orion’s stars still shine, you know he’s right. History and nature that differ from the cities of Malang, Yogyakarta, or Bali. #Blitar is worthy of being a short escape
