A place where little ones thrive
and caregivers feel supported.
Rise & Shine Play is a different kind of play place, created for little ones and the grown-ups who bring them. We’re here to make early parenthood feels a little lighter, with room to play, connect, grab a good coffee, and enjoy being together.
Our Rise & Shine Story
Hi San Diego!
We are Molly and Marissa, the owners of Rise & Shine Play.
We were both stay-at-home moms when we first discovered Rise & Shine. We’d been a few times with our little ones and immediately noticed that it felt different from other places we’d been. We could actually sit down, drink our coffee, and let our kids play without constantly hovering or running after them.
It was refreshing.
When the opportunity came to take over the business, we went for it. Since then, we’ve been making small changes that add up to something big, while staying true to what made us love Rise & Shine in the first place.
A Different Kind of Play
From the beginning, we loved that Rise & Shine didn’t feel like every other indoor play place.
It was a place where little ones could actually play while adults could enjoy being there, too. We wanted to hold onto that feeling while continuing to make the space our own.
Today, that means room for kids to move, explore, and play while you grab a coffee, catch up with a friend, get a little work done, or just sit back and watch your little one play.
Open Play is at the heart of Rise & Shine, but there are plenty of other ways to make it part of your routine, from classes and playdates to Friday Play Club, special events, and birthday parties.
Meet Molly & Marissa
We were neighbors for years before having babies at the same time brought us together.
We were both new moms, both staying home with our babies, and both figuring it out as we went.
We’re different in a lot of ways, but that’s part of what makes us such a good team.
Marissa
Marissa grew up mostly in San Diego as a military kid. She’s a trained pastry chef who worked at Azúcar in Ocean Beach. At Rise & Shine, she leads all things creative, from our aesthetic and events, to the menu and all the little details that make the space feel like us.
She’s mom to a toddler, infant, and 2 cats.
Molly
Molly grew up in New York City and has called San Diego home for the past 10 years. She earned her MBA in 2023 and now puts it to work running the operational side of Rise & Shine, from finances and systems to marketing and business strategy.
She’s mom to a toddler, one senior dog, and two cats.
We’re pretty different. Marissa co-sleeps; Molly had her baby sleeping in his own room and crib at one month. But we agree on plenty, including our shared love of iced shaken espressos, wine, and making sure the coffee at Rise & Shine is always mom-worthy. Because parents don’t deserve bad coffee.