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

New Orleans police were helping to clear the building Friday afternoon and restricting access in the area, which is along Decatur Street adjacent to Jackson Square in the French Quarter. There is damage to a roof joist on Building A of the French Market,