![Breakfast Republic in Pacific Beach temporarily closes for electrical upgrades](https://cdn.sdnews.com/wp-content/uploads/20220116104646/ED12_1_web_1a_DSC_4564.jpg)
Recently opened Breakfast Republic in Pacific Beach has closed temporarily for electrical kitchen upgrades.
Formerly Miller’s Field at 4465 Mission Blvd., Breakfast Republic opened after a building remodel in December.
Spokesperson Casey Sorrell of Altstrategies said the eatery closed its doors Feb. 5, but not to worry: It isn’t permanent.
Sorrell noted the temporary closure has nothing to do with the new restaurant’s business volume.
“It became quickly one of the busiest of the seven existing locations,” said Sorrell, who pointed out the remodel was done quickly because the company was eager to open.
“They [owners] quickly realized the space, formerly a bar, needed some upgrades, that it was [at present] unfit to to handle high volumes of business,” Sorrell said. “What was really needed to make things work was electrical upgrades in the kitchen.”
Sorrell assured the restaurant “is not closed for good.” But she couldn’t estimate how long permitting and repairs will take — or when breakfast eatery will reopen.
Sorrell pointed out an electrical refit is a complicated undertaking.
“Just think of all the machines they had to bring in that were not previously in Miller’s kitchen,” she said. “So they closed, and are making changes to get everything up to speed and up and running as soon as possible.”
Sorrell added the restaurant chain, Rise & Shine Restaurant Group, is “heavily invested in this site with its brand.”
Owned by Swedish native Johan Engman, Rise & Shine Restaurant Group began in 2008 with Fig Tree Cafe in Pacific Beach. Fig Tree now has two other locations in Liberty Station and Hillcrest.
Born and raised in northern Sweden until age 16, Engman first came to the United States with his mother, originally planning only to stay for a year. He entered the restaurant industry after high school as a dishwasher in a small Italian restaurant.
Engman then moved on to bussing tables at a local hotel before working as a server at a number of local restaurants. He made it his goal to open a restaurant of his own, nurturing his desire to offer a homestyle, friendly breakfast option for local diners.
It was then that he conceptualized the original Fig Tree Café in Pacific Beach, making his dream of becoming a restaurateur a reality in October 2008.
Breakfast Republic replaced Miller’s, the decade-old quintessential sports bar known as the home base for Kentucky, Penn State and West Virginia university fans.