Pubs and restaurants in the Indische buurt: the living room door ajar; The effects of gentrification on the daily life of owners and visitors of pubs and restaurants

Abstract

This thesis deals with the daily life effects of gentrification on the individual business and visitor level of pubs and restaurants, with a focus on local pubs. The research area of this thesis is an early gentrifying neighborhood in Amsterdam, the Indische buurt. The effects entail perceptual and behavioral aspects, about the neighborhood in total, the supply and demand of the pubs and restaurants and the personal situation of owners and clients.

The developments going on in the Indische buurt are mainly appreciated by both parties, in general and especially within the restaurant sector. Some businesses already reacted to these changes, while some try to and others do not recognize gentrification at all. The role of the large ethnic population and corresponding supply seems to positively influence the appreciation of (commercial) gentrification. Besides that, awareness and competences play a crucial role as well for the entrepreneurs.

Within specifically local pubs the role of the pub owner is crucial, since he/she can connect the new and old clientele and therefore might be a key factor in bringing gentrifiers and non-gentrifiers together. However, local pubs are seen as quite isolated entities within the neighborhood by both groups. At the same time, local pubs are described as social places, where owners and customers are bound with eachother but also open to newcomers.