NEW ORLEANS — For Christopher Reed and his girlfriend Vienna, stopping at Café Du Monde is a tradition. “It’s an important part of New Orleans,” Christopher Reed said. “It’s a real old custom. Anytime I come to New Orleans, I have to have coffee and beignets there.”

The City of New Orleans is asking residents to avoid the French Market area due to an issue with a building. According to a release issued by the city, residents are asked to avoid the area. Sign up for our NewslettersDecatur Street has reopened traffic from Canal towards Esplanade Avenue.

City of New Orleans officials are advising the public to avoid Decatur Street due to traffic in the area.

Much of the French Market building on Decatur Street was closed Friday due to structural issues with the roof that forced an evacuation of several businesses, including Cafe du Monde. The iconic beignet spot beloved by locals and tourists alike opened in that spot more than a century ago,

Cafe Du Monde is back in operation after abruptly closing for the day on Friday. On Dec. 13, City of New Orleans officials issued a notice to the public to avoid Decatur Street citing traffic caused by “ongoing issues” with the French Market building.

Cafe du Monde owner Jay Roman denied earlier media reports of a partial roof collapse. Roman, who spoke with Fox 8 outside the French Quarter landmark, described the issue as “a