By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News
For 35 years, Market Express has provided stellar service for Castle Country residents and travelers from across the globe. To celebrate these 35 years in business, Market Express is hosting a Customer Appreciation Day on Saturday, May 17.
Rachel Barbee and Nick Kiahtipes from Market Express joined the KOAL newsroom to discuss what it means to be celebrating this anniversary and their recent recognition as a top 20 independent gas station by Convenience Store Magazine.
“My dad and uncle opened that store 35 years ago. Both of them had never been in retail before. They started it and their first slogan was, ‘it’s all about the service,’ making a place where customers felt appreciated and that was where we provided a convenience so that they would keep coming back and improving people’s days,” explained Kiahtipes. “They’ve been able to do it for 35 years, and I want to keep continuing that, and this is just a day to say thank you to all of our customers for helping us get this far.”
The celebration will occur across all three Market Express locations, with various activities at all franchises. “From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., we’ll have a free self-serve car wash at our Chevron location. In addition, the Boys and Girls Club of Carbon County will do a fundraiser from noon to 2 p.m., so come out and support them as well.” Barbee added,” We have a great deal for $3.99, where you get the famous double cheeseburger, large fries and a drink.”
The event will also feature an opportunity drawing in conjunction with local charity Don’t Hit. “You’ll also be able to purchase raffle tickets with a donation to Don’t Hit, a local charity focused on trauma therapy and counseling. And so Market Express will match up to $500 in donations to Don’t Hit this weekend,” explained Kiahtipes.
Kiahtipes also took the time to reflect on the store’s recent recognition as a top 20 independent gas station by Convenience Store Magazine. “It was very cool to hear that from different vendors and people in this industry here. I do it because I love this job and it’s something that I grew up doing, but getting some recognition from people who do this as their career was fascinating because I see it in the stores. I see the people coming in and the repeat customers and that’s what I see. And so it’s nice to see a different perspective on that.”
Barbee echoed this sentiment,” I think for me, it’s one of those things that I love supporting the community. I wasn’t born here, but I’m going to live here till I die. It is one of those things that supports those local businesses and is so important to me and this community. And that’s the thing that I love about this community, is how much we all support those independent businesses and those small business owners. So it’s so impactful to hear that national recognition is seen and that it’s just great.”
Closing out the conversation, Barbee stated,” We are so excited to have your community support and to really appreciate you, our customers, for all that you have given us and contributed over the last 35 years. I can’t wait to see you.”
Market Express’s Customer Appreciation Day will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 17. Market Express has locations at 850 S Carbon Ave, 121 N Carbonville Road and 755 S Carbon Ave. More information is available online at marketexp.co and on the station’s Facebook page.