Business · Companies · 4 hrs ago
Paris department store BHV seeks court protection amid financial crisis
BHV Marais has asked a Paris court for restructuring protection as it struggles with serious financial problems.
The historic department store operates on Rue de Rivoli in central Paris and employs about 700 people.
The process is intended to give the business time to protect jobs and prepare a recovery plan, while allowing the store to remain open.
BHV says Brookfield owes it compensation linked to the return of more than half the store’s space, and that the missing money has blocked its relaunch.
Brookfield denies owing any money, saying BHV has not met the contract conditions for payment.
The store has also faced empty shelves, the departure of several brands and damage during recent unrest; its opening of a permanent Shein shop drew controversy and was later called a strategic mistake by its president.
The court-supervised process will give BHV time to seek a way forward, while its workers remain worried about the company’s future.
BHV Marais said on 27 October it had sought court-supervised restructuring after months of financial difficulty.
The Paris department store says the procedure is intended to secure its recovery plan and protect jobs.
Its president blames Brookfield, the landlord, for not paying compensation linked to the return of more than half the store’s space.
Brookfield denies owing BHV money and says the store has not met the contractual conditions for payment.
The store employs about 700 people, and reports differ on whether its filing was made in Lyon or Paris.
- Who
- BHV Marais, the Paris department store, and its president, Karl-Stéphane Cottendin.
- What
- BHV said it had requested court-supervised restructuring. The move is intended to support a recovery plan and preserve jobs.
- When
- Tuesday, 27 October 2026.
- Where
- The store is in Paris. Le Monde says the request was made to the Lyon tribunal, while other reports say it was filed at the Paris tribunal.
- Why
- BHV cites financial difficulties and says it is missing compensation due from landlord Brookfield. Brookfield disputes that account.
BHV Marais
Brookfield
Compensation
BHV Marais
BHV says contractual compensation for returning more than half the store’s space has not been paid and is needed to fund its recovery plan.
Brookfield
Brookfield says it owes no money because BHV has not returned the spaces in the condition required by the lease.
Responsibility for the crisis
BHV Marais
BHV says the missing funds have hindered restocking and the store’s relaunch.
Brookfield
Brookfield says BHV’s failure to meet its own obligations has led to the current situation.
Brookfield and BHV signed a lease setting conditions for payment of compensation.
BHV says it returned more than half of the store to the landlord in exchange for contractual compensation.
The BHV store was partly looted during unrest in Paris.
BHV announced it had requested court-supervised restructuring.
A hearing at the Paris tribunal was expected, according to Le Monde.
- Employees
- About 700
- Store founded
- 1856
- Lease signed
- 27 January 2026
- Space returned
- More than half of the store, according to BHV
- Restructuring request
- 27 October 2026
6 sources
Pourquoi le BHV demande sa mise en redressement judiciaire aux juges de Lyon
L’emblématique BHV Marais se déclare en faillite
BHV Marais : vers la fin d'un grand magasin ?
"Brookfield dément devoir une quelconque somme au BHV à ce jour": le propriétaire des murs du magasin parisien réfute être responsable de son placement en redressement judiciaire
What people are saying
What this store is missing today is the cash that is owed to it
Brookfield categorically denies owing any amount to BHV to date
Saying that the relaunch of BHV’s activity depends on the landlord completely reverses the reality of the facts
We no longer want this management. What we want is someone who can put forward a viable project to keep the company alive