KATHMANDU, Feb 3: After months of repairs following vandalism and arson during the Gen Z protests, the Bhatbhateni Super Store in Koteshwor is set to resume operations from February 10, signaling a key step toward recovery for the country’s largest retail chain.
On Monday, Bhatbhateni Chairman Min Bahadur Gurung performed worship rituals at the Koteshwor outlet ahead of its reopening. This is not the first time the store has bounced back quickly—during a previous pro-monarchy movement, the outlet had suffered looting and vandalism but resumed operations the very next day.
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Preparations are also underway to reopen the Maharajgunj store within the next two weeks, according to Chief Operating Officer (COO) Panu Paudel. He said other outlets damaged during the Gen Z movement are being rebuilt and gradually brought back into operation. The company had already resumed operations at its main warehouse in Baluwatar three months after the protests.
On September 9, Gen Z protesters damaged 21 of the 28 Bhatbhateni stores across the country, including several in Kathmandu. The arson and vandalism resulted in losses amounting to Rs 10.85 billion. Of the affected outlets, 12 stores, including the main Baluwatar store, were completely gutted, while the remaining nine sustained partial damage.
Earlier, during a meeting with Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Gurung had informed that 12 stores were fully destroyed and nine others partially damaged. He also assured that none of the company’s more than 10,000 employees would be laid off and that Dashain bonuses would be paid in full.
Gurung further claimed that Bhatbhateni had been deliberately “targeted,” despite his repeated public commitments to hand over half of his property if the state deemed it necessary.
According to company figures, infrastructure damage at 19 stores—12 fully destroyed and seven partially damaged—amounted to Rs 4.40 billion, while goods worth Rs 5.96 billion were destroyed by fire. An additional Rs 495.7 million worth of goods were lost to looting and vandalism.
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