Here’s what’s next for the Olympic Doughnuts man at Footscray train station

DOUGHNUT ask Nick Tsiligiris for his recipe ... it’s top secret. But soon the 76-year-old — who has melted the hearts of locals with his captivating story — is set for a larger audience.

DOUGHNUT ask Nick Tsiligiris for his recipe ... it’s top secret.

The 76-year-old has been tempting locals and visitors alike with the delicious scent of his freshly made hot jam doughnuts at Footscray train station in Melbourne’s inner west since 1979.

Asked of the famous recipe given to him by a flour salesman when he first arrived in Australia by boat from Greece in 1966, he smirks: “I’d only tell you lies.”

Donut man Nick Tsiligiris at Footscray station.

The fate of his Olympic Doughnuts store came under threat last year when the station underwent a major redevelopment and he was forced to move the rusty and graffiti-laden caravan he had operated from under the pedestrian footbridge for 30 years.

Not wanting to let his loyal customers down, Mr Tsiligiris constantly moved the van around the workers as the construction site expanded.

His captivating story has been the inspiration of a short film, Olympic Nick: A Donutumentary, which has been selected to be professionally produced as part of this year’s Raw Nerve Production Initiative.

Treat for the train: Nick Tsiligiris, 76, with a tray of his delicious hot jam doughnuts. Picture: Sarah Matray

Filmmaker Ian Tran said the eight-minute documentary would be “an ode to Footscray”, showing off its cultural diversity.

“We chose Nick because he’s such an iconic part of Footscray,” Mr Tran said.

“He’s more than just a man selling doughnuts. He has captured the hearts of so many people with his zest for life.”

Mr Tsiligiris, who makes 10 buckets of dough at his Richmond home each evening, has now ditched the caravan and moved into a new shopfront on Irving St.

Customers, don’t fear though, his recipe remains the same — and so does the .80c price tag.

A crowd-funding campaign has been set up to help Nick’s Olympic journey be told.

Donate at www.pozible.com/olympicnick