One can never have too many donuts. As our friends at Cartems have proven, their experimental donut flavours, innovative store concepts, and playful personality just keep on increasing Vancouver’s demand for donuts! It was no surprise when Jordan and Rags were ready to open a third Cartems Donuterie location in Kitsilano, and we couldn’t wait to get involved with these sweet and savoury masterminds to help them bring Cartems out to Vancouver’s west side.

Donuts On Broadway

The new Broadway store was going to have a different design aesthetic compared to the Mount Pleasant and Downtown stores. Architect and Designer Imu Chan of FSOARK designed a bright, open concept store with a minimalist, modern aesthetic. Polished concrete floors and concrete bricks at the service counter anchor the space, while the soaring open ceilings provide lots of natural light for the all-day donut cafe.

Every Cartems location centres around three concrete values: smiles, conversations, and donuts. This was no different in the new space. With a lengthy communal table that occupies the room, there is always a spot for one of the nearby university students or local parents dropping in for story-time. Or for those Saturday morning coffee dates, a cozy nook in the corner provides a quiet retreat. All of the millwork was completed in-house at the Pacific workshop where we used a baltic birch plywood with exposed edges – built to last in the busy space.

Our Favourite Design Features

That’s a tough one. It’s a toss-up between the baltic birch plywood countertops wrapped with sleek brushed stainless laminate, or the tiled wall with the mosaic Cartems logo. The seamless combination of materials in the space provide a clean background against which the bright red Cartems boxes just POP – and those always, always bring a smile to anyone’s face.