Westgate to re-open next week

Several businesses have announced plans to resume their operations at the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi almost two years since the terror attack.

Atul Shah, Nakumatt Holdings Managing Director (MD) has confirmed that the supermarket chain will reopen its store on July 18th, 2015 along other businesses.

“As the anchor tenant, the opening of Nakumatt Westgate will also coincide with the Westgate Shopping Mall’s official reopening with other key tenants such as ArtCaffé and Ashleys Beauty Centre among others also set to resume their operations,” he said.

The shopping centre was closed after Al Shabaab militants attacked in September 2013 leaving at least 67 people dead and 200 nursing injuries.

Alex Trachtenberg, the shopping complex’s MD mentioned that the tenants have already started on outfitting and furnishing their stores ahead of the big day.

Local entrepreneurs who suffered losses during the siege and subsequent closure have vowed never to run away and have booked even bigger spaces.

“As patriotic Kenyan business people, we are confident that Westgate Mall will arise from the ruins to greater heights than it ever was and we have booked space five times bigger,” said Terry Mungai of Ashleys Beauty Centre.

The reconstruction of the high-end mall is said to have costed about three billion shillings.