Family Express plans on investing $100 million in new-to-industry convenience stores, which includes a rollout of new stores across Indiana. The announcement came as the Valparaiso, Indiana-based c-store chain kicked off celebrations for its 50th anniversary.
“As we celebrate our 50th year, we’re focused not only on our past, but on building the next 50,” Alex Olympidis, president of operations, said Wednesday in announcing the milestone. “Our newest stores are designed to enhance the guest experience, developed on spacious 3- to 4- acre sites, each featuring an expanded foodservice court, state-of-the-art car washes, and, in many cases, our signature pet washes that our guests have come to love.”
- Family Express Corp. is No. 86 on CSP’s2025 Top 202 ranking of U.S. convenience-store chains by store count.
Family Express said there will be a “flurry” of grand openings over the next several months. As of Jan. 1, the chain had 81 stores.
Gus Olympidis, president and CEO of Family Express, told CSP on Friday that Family Express is aiming to complete 11 stores with this investment, with four stores opening before the end of the year.
All of Family Express' new development will be featuring its modularized methods of construction to help accelerate the development schedule, he said. The chain also said in 2024 that it was adding kitchens to most of its stores.
Family Express was founded in Valparaiso in 1975. It operates c-stores throughout northwest and central Indiana. It celebrated its 50th anniversary at its Annual Family Festival, an event that brings together more than 2,300 team members and their families, the company said.
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