Once again, a busy New Orleans restaurant was forced to close early on Monday night after a neighboring building collapsed. It was the second time that has happened in less than three weeks.
Gris Gris owner Eric Cook said the collapse of a two-story building at the three-way intersection of Magazine Street, Felicity Street and Hastings place occurred in the middle of a fully-booked dinner service, damaging cars and power equipment.
Cook said the restaurant closed and lost about $10,000 from canceled reservations when the upper floor of the triangular building across the street collapsed shortly before 6 p.m., damaging cars below and causing power and internet outages. Cook said he hoped to reopen for New Year’s Eve celebrations on Tuesday.
“The staff is depending on this night to make tips and pay bills at the end of the month,” Cook said on Tuesday morning.
Gris Gris customers hurriedly finished and rushed outside to see what had happened after an explosion was heard in close proximity. It was eerily similar to a scene that played out at Maypop on O’Keefe Avenue on Dec. 14, when a mixed-use building next door gave way and forced the restaurant to evacuate.
O’Keefe Avenue remained closed for 10 days, and Maypop reopened on Dec. 26.
“After everything that’s been going on in this city, I guess it’s not as surprising these days,” said Gris Gris sous-chef Gonzalo Bereciartua.
Bricks lay at the foot of a building that partially collapsed at O’Keefe Avenue and Lafayette Street in downtown New Orleans on Dec. 14, 2024.
Unlike the earlier incident in the Warehouse District, the Lower Garden District collapse on Magazine Street didn’t endanger the startled diners. But the spectacle at the foot of the revered, miles-long corridor consisting of mostly local businesses left Cook wondering why the city hadn’t done more to secure it by the next morning.
Passersby walked between gaps in the barricades to get a closer look, some kicking debris and bricks around with their feet.
“I just don’t know how you can leave something like this and be like, ‘it’s all great, man,’” said Cook. “Welcome to the gateway to Magazine Street.”
The owner of Gris Gris, a popular restaurant in the heart of the city, has spoken out after a nearby building collapsed. The incident, which occurred just a few blocks away from the restaurant, has left the owner and his staff shaken.
In a statement released to the press, the owner expressed his concern for the safety of his customers and employees. He emphasized that the building collapse was a tragic event that could have easily happened closer to his restaurant.
The owner also praised the quick response of emergency services and the community for coming together to help those affected by the collapse. He urged other building owners in the area to ensure that their structures are up to code and safe for occupancy.
Despite the incident, the owner remains committed to serving his customers and providing a safe and enjoyable dining experience at Gris Gris. He thanked everyone for their continued support and vowed to do everything in his power to prevent such tragedies from happening again in the future.
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