Karmavore debuts vegan dessert lounge and organic juice bar

The first vegan shop in Metro Vancouver is no more. But New Westminster’s Karmavore isn’t going anywhere. Owner Salim Jamal has just morphed his vegan business from a retailer into an eatery.

This week, Karmavore launched a dessert lounge at its space in downtown New West. Back in February, Karmavore celebrated the grand opening of its café at the same location. According to an August 7 press release, the rebranded Karmavore Café + Dessert Lounge (610 Columbia Street) still has a deli—which is now on the main floor rather than downstairs—and serves everything from vegan poutine and chick’n gyros to tiramisu and ice cream cake.

Karmavore has also expanded with a second location in the River Market at Westminster Quay. The pop-up Karmavore Juice Bar (107-810 Quayside Drive) opened on August 1. You’ll find it in the food court next to Crêpe Des Amis. The menu features organic juices, salads, wraps, and sweet treats.

The café and dessert lounge is open 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. The juice bar is also open seven days a week but from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

As a pop-up, the juice bar is expected to stay open until at least the end of October. However, if the juice bar is successful, it could become a longer-term operation.