NEW ORLEANS — Famous French Quarter hotspot Café du Monde reopened on Saturday after structural problems forced a shutdown a day earlier.
The historic beignet spot was evacuated as crews worked to fix a support beam in the building's attic.
Café co-owner and President Jay Roman said they've been planning to repair the beam for a while now, but Friday morning the ceiling started to sag.
"We are in an old building, as everyone knows," said Roman after the evacuation. "... (in the attic) it's all old timber ... and there's not a nail in the attic. It's all dowel lumber and they were starting to split in one of the timbers."
Roman told the media that he expected to be open by the next day.
“It’s an important part of New Orleans,” tourist Christopher Reed told WWL Louisiana. “It’s a real old custom. Anytime I come to New Orleans, I have to have coffee and beignets there.”
Cafe du Monde owner speaks about closure, structural issues
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