Part of the historic French Market building, including Café du Monde, was evacuated and shops were forced to close Friday after a damaged roof joist was discovered. Authorities cleared out the upriver end of the building Friday afternoon and restricted access in the area along Decatur Street adjacent to Jackson Square in the French Quarter.

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

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.

In 1812, tragedy struck when the building was destroyed by a hurricane and the city of New Orleans built a Bazaar Market there for fruits and vegetable stands. The building was designed by Joseph Abeilart, an African American architect, and Cafe du Monde opened 50 years later.

New Orleans' world-famous beignet and coffee shop Cafe du Monde abruptly closed Friday afternoon (Dec. 13) over city inspectors' concern for a sagging attic roof in the French Mar