The future of several student pubs on Molenstraat is hanging by a thread. During the introduction week, the pubs owned by hospitality entrepreneur Khalid Oubaha, who is facing financial difficulties, will remain open. What happens after that is currently unclear.

Drie Gezusters, Café van Buren, De Bieb, and Club Novia. During the introduction week of Radboud University, which begins on Sunday, many students will undoubtedly find their way to the pubs on Molenstraat. Whether that will be the case for the rest of the academic year is currently uncertain.

These pubs are just a small selection of businesses owned by Nijmegen hospitality entrepreneur Khalid Oubaha. During the COVID-19 period, Oubaha, who owns a total of 24 establishments with around five hundred employees in Nijmegen, Arnhem, and Enschede, encountered financial difficulties. He has never recovered from this.

Creditors

In early July, reports from the newspaper De Gelderlander revealed that a rescue plan to save Oubaha’s businesses from bankruptcy, a so-called WHOA procedure, had failed.

The majority of the creditors, including brewers like Heineken and Grolsch, a cleaning company, and over a hundred smaller creditors, agreed to the deal. However, the Belastingdienst (Tax Authority) and brewer AB-Inbev did not approve. Consequently, the judge refused to sanction the WHOA procedure.

Chances of Success

Shortly after, the court granted Oubaha a postponement of payment. Attorney Tian Herstel has been appointed by the court as administrator to advise on a new agreement with the creditors. It is expected that more clarity on the chances of success of an agreement will only emerge after the introduction period, Herstel stated in a written response to Vox.

According to Herstel, the intention is still to keep the hospitality venues open – in Nijmegen, Arnhem, and Enschede.

Translated by Siri Joustra