The old Cartems Donuts space on Main Street has a new owner, and it was already packed with a line out the door on day one.
Cream Pony, the family-run donut and Southern fried chicken shop from North Vancouver, officially opened its second location along Main Street on Friday, March 6.
We first reported on the upcoming expansion back in March 2025, when the mother-daughter duo behind Cream Pony announced they would be taking over the former Cartems unit at Main and 6th.
That was months ago, and Ali, the daughter half of the ownership team, has been sharing the progress of the build-out on social media ever since.
Now it is finally here.
We stopped by on opening day, and even on a rainy Friday afternoon, the place was full.
Fans were lined up outside the door waiting to get in.
The space has been completely renovated and it looks nothing like the old Cartems.
Bright yellow walls, playful cartoon murals of chickens on telephones, pink shelves lined with horse figurines, and a glowing “cream” sign on a blue-gray accent wall.
If you have been to the original North Vancouver location, you will recognize the fun, whimsical energy right away.
A heart-shaped mural near the entrance reads “Come for the donuts, stay for the hot chicken.”
That about sums up the concept.
The menu is laid out on the wall behind the counter and covers all the hits from the original location.
Handmade donuts, Southern fried chicken pieces, crispy chicken sandwiches, pita wraps, salads, and a selection of sides and sauces.
Since we were just popping in for a quick snack, we grabbed two of their yeast donuts to try.
The Chicken Foot is one of their signature creations. It is a yeast donut with bright blue vanilla icing, topped with a gummy chicken foot candy poking out the top.
It is playful, a little ridiculous, and exactly what Cream Pony is all about.
We also picked up a Chocolate Dips, which is exactly what it sounds like and just as satisfying.
The donut case was stocked with rows of colourful options, from pink glazed to deep chocolate to the unmistakable blue of the Chicken Foot.
Cream Pony Main Street now joins other recently opened food spots in Vancouver like C Market Coffee on Main Street, Kam Wai Legacy, and Aburi Market Downtown.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: 2190 Main St, Vancouver, BC