Johan Engman is ready to continue the expansion of his breakfast empire in 2016. Adding to his Rise & Shine Restaurant Group portfolio of three Fig Tree Cafe locations (Pacific Beach, Liberty Station and Hillcrest) and Breakfast Republic in North Park, Engman will open another Breakfast Republic location, this time in Point Loma's Liberty Station, and will open an offshoot of his popular Fig Tree brand - Fig Tree Eatery - in Little Italy/Downtown San Diego.
Johan Engman and Chef Alberto Morreale will unveil Fig Tree Eatery at 1495 Pacific Highway in downtown San Diego, expected to open August 2016. Previously an office building, there will be a complete build out of the location to transform the space to offer 1,300 square foot of interior dining with another 1,000 square foot patio. Unlike the existing Fig Tree Cafe locations, this restaurant will have a full liquor license, resulting in an emphasis on craft cocktails.
Engman's Breakfast Republic concept, which quickly made a name for itself as a dining destination after opening in June 2015 in North Park, will have a second location that will open in Liberty Station as early as Spring 2016. The 1,500-plus square foot space that previously housed Sushi Mura will be built out, including the addition of a 600 square foot outdoor patio. Like Fig Tree Eatery, this eatery will have a full liquor license, and unlike the North Park location that is only open from 7am-3pm, the Liberty Station restaurant will offer evening dining.
A native of Sweden, Engman moved to San Diego when he was 16 and worked at various positions within the restaurant industry. He fell in love with the industry and knew he eventually wanted to open his own breakfast-centric restaurant. In 2008, his dream came alive when he opened the first Fig Tree Cafe in Pacific Beach. The rest, as they say, is history.
