Kenya’s Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi has reopened to the public, nearly two years since al Shabaab gunmen went on the rampage in the aisles, in a siege and massacre that left at least 67 people dead.

Thousands of people turned up when the doors opened on Saturday morning, and stores and restaurants across the complex were crowded with patrons.

But, in a reminder of the security threat, armed police guarded the entrance to the complex. Inside private security guards in plain clothes patrolled the building, wearing earpieces for communication.

And although traders are back in business, memories of the massacre remain.

“That day was really tragic,” said the owner of one outlet, Olga Ercolano.

“My staff, Caroline, who is a sales girl, she was there that day and she was lucky to escape alive. But she also doesn’t want to go back to those memories, you know. We just want to be positive and move forward.”

Israeli firm I.R.G. has been put in charge of running security in the r