NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – From Australia to Columbia, folks from all around the world are drawn, to not solely the music and the scent of freshly powdered beignets, but additionally to the hospitality.

At this iconic spot on Decatur, the unique Cafe Du Monde within the French Market has been a staple for 160 years.

The “usually imitated however by no means duplicated” beignets, espresso with chicory and the folks contained in the store, who work day in and time out, are an enormous a part of what makes it not like another place on this planet.

Cooking up beignets is just not as straightforward because it appears. Will Joseph, who has labored right here for 20 years, simply makes it look that approach.

When Will walked into Cafe Du Monde in his 20s, he didn’t understand he would keep round for twenty years, and he’s not the one one.

“I identical to doing it. I’m right here day-after-day, 5 within the morning, setting issues up,” stated Joseph.

Kim Richard Huffman is the second longest-serving worker. Her journey began proper after the Vietnam Warfare. When Kim received to New Orleans within the 1970s, she stated she didn’t converse English, however Cafe Du Monde gave her an opportunity.

“I’m grateful for the Cafe Du Monde household as a result of they gave me a job, and I’m right here right now due to them,” stated Huffman.

She has served presidents and film stars however actually enjoys bringing out beignets to folks such as you and me.

“I don’t care what shade or kin you’re,” stated Huffman. “Everybody has a coronary heart.”

Then, there are long-time staff like Day Supervisor Kenny Swafford and Nguyet Trinh, who mans the register. They’ve labored right here for a mixed 80 years.

“I lived in Tennessee. So, I got here down right here. My brother labored right here, and he launched me to Jay,” defined Swafford. “He known as me up when he wanted someone, and I’ve been right here ever since.”

“The longevity I hope, is as a result of we’ve been intertwined with the town of New Orleans,” stated President of Cafe Du Monde Jay Roman.

Roman stated the corporate at the moment employs 300 folks at its 10 places and warehouse. Out of these 300 staff, 60 have labored for the corporate for greater than 10 years.

“We’ve many, many households that work with us right here. We’ve quite a few circumstances, the place we’ve got mother and father, their youngsters got here to work throughout their college years, and we’ve got grandkids in some circumstances that come working for us,” defined Roman. “We’ve all the time been a household surroundings that interprets to others as nicely.”

Whether or not they’re whipping up Cafe Au Lait’s like Kim or frying beignets like Will, these staff stated what retains Cafe Du Monde a go-to vacation spot are the individuals who dedicate themselves to conserving this 160-year custom alive and think about themselves household.

“I really like them. I really like them like they’re my very own,” concluded Huffman.

Even a few members of our Fox eight household labored for Cafe Du Monde. Veteran Reporter Rob Masson labored there for 2 years, on and off, as an adolescent. Director George Gant labored at a few totally different places again within the 1990s.

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