# Johan Engman

> Johan Engman is the San Diego-based founder and CEO of Rise & Shine Hospitality Group. Born in Östersund, Sweden, he moved to California at 16, began restaurant work as a teenage dishwasher, opened Fig Tree Cafe with about $45,000 in October 2008, and worked other jobs for three years while the restaurant lost money. He later created Breakfast Republic, a playful Southern California breakfast concept conceived during a rainbound day in Borneo, and built a portfolio that also includes Fig Tree Cafe, Breakfast Company, Eggies, Feast & Fareway and Ox Coffee.

- **Role:** Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Rise & Shine Hospitality Group
- **Organizations:** Rise & Shine Hospitality Group, Breakfast Republic, Fig Tree Cafe, Breakfast Company, Eggies, Feast & Fareway, Ox Coffee
- **From:** Östersund, Sweden
- **Nationality:** Swedish
- **Known for:** Built Rise & Shine Hospitality Group from a single Pacific Beach café into a multi-concept Southern California restaurant portfolio., Turned Fig Tree Cafe profitable after roughly three loss-making years following its 2008 opening., Launched Breakfast Republic in 2015 and expanded the concept beyond San Diego into other Southern California markets.

## Career timeline

- **1997** — Moved from Östersund, Sweden, to San Diego at age 16.
- **1998** — Moved out on his own while in high school and began working nights as a dishwasher to pay rent; later worked as a busser and server.
- **2008** — Opened Fig Tree Cafe in Pacific Beach on October 9 with about $45,000.
- **2008-2011** — Kept the money-losing café open while working other jobs; Fig Tree Cafe reached profitability after roughly three years.
- **2011** — Left his corporate job and opened a second Fig Tree Cafe in Hillcrest.
- **2013** — Opened a third Fig Tree Cafe in Liberty Station.
- **2015** — Opened the first Breakfast Republic in North Park on July 26 after developing the concept during a trip to Borneo.
- **2018** — Expanded into Coronado with Feast & Fareway at the municipal golf course through a partnership.
- **2020** — Opened four restaurants during the pandemic year and led a company fundraising effort that collected $79,290, according to the San Diego Business Journal.
- **2021** — Named the San Diego Business Journal CEO of the Year in the private large-company category.
- **2025** — Breakfast Republic marked its tenth anniversary; later that year, the West Hollywood Breakfast Republic was converted into Breakfast Company.

## Achievements

- Built Rise & Shine Hospitality Group from a single Pacific Beach café into a multi-concept Southern California restaurant portfolio.
- Turned Fig Tree Cafe profitable after roughly three loss-making years following its 2008 opening.
- Launched Breakfast Republic in 2015 and expanded the concept beyond San Diego into other Southern California markets.
- Received the 2021 San Diego Business Journal CEO of the Year award in the private large-company category.
- Made community giving a stated company mission, including annual complimentary holiday meals for veterans and charitable opening-weekend fundraisers.

## Latest updates

- **2025-10** — Rise & Shine converted its West Hollywood Breakfast Republic into a Breakfast Company location and pledged opening-weekend food and beverage sales to Project Angel Food.
- **2025-07** — Breakfast Republic celebrated ten years since its first North Park location opened in July 2015.
- **2024-11** — In a leadership interview, Engman identified resilience, humility, scrappiness, adaptability and authenticity as central to his approach.

## Links

- Website: https://riseandshinerg.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johansadventures
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johansadventures/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/johan-engman
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-27