What the Fig is going on?
Fig Tree Café in North Pacific Beach is temporarily closed down and kicking off a major renovation. While many PB restaurants are only serving take-out food during the pandemic, the popular tree-covered Fig Tree Café is taking this time to revamp the indoor/outdoor dining area. “The plan is to re-open by the end of June,” said Fig Tree marketing spokesperson Kevin Becker. “But with all that’s going on, who knows? That’s the date we’re shooting for.”
Fig Tree Café opened in 2008 on Cass Street near Sapphire Street in North PB. Owner Johan Engman then started two other Fig Tree eateries, one in North Park and one at Liberty Station. Engman is also the owner/founder of the Breakfast Republic restaurant chain. “Since Fig Tree PB was his first restaurant here, Engman is taking this time to update the original dining area of booths and tables,” explained Becker. Before the temporary shutdown, the cozy and quaint café had drawn big crowds, especially on weekends. Usually, there were lines and a wait to seat customers. Becker added, “The unique breakfast/lunch creative California cuisine will remain once the café is re-opened. Maybe some new items, Engman is working on that. But visually, the indoor/outdoor area will look totally different, very updated, and unique.”
While the Fig Tree Pacific Beach and Liberty Station will remain the same name, the Fig Tree Café in North Park is closed down and will re-open as a Breakfast Republic restaurant. “Pacific Beach already has a Breakfast Republic on Mission Boulevard,” Becker pointed out, “so we wanted to keep the Fig Tree the same name because it’s so popular and customers are used to it.’
But customers will have to wait until late June, at least, before lining up again at the Fig Tree Café. “We’re excited about the renovation,” said Becker, “and we hope once we reopen, our customers will be excited too.”