Small Business

Olympic Doughnuts shop at Footscray train station to close permanently

After four decades serving hot jam doughnuts outside a suburban train station, Footscray's Olympic Doughnuts is shutting up shop.

Maribyrnong Council on Monday posted to its Facebook page that the much-loved store would not reopen due to the ill health of its owner, Nick Tsiligiris.

Mr Tsiligiris started the shop outside the station in 1979, but stepped away from the business last year due to sickness.

The council's statement said the Tsiligiris family had made the decision to permanently close the shop due to the 76-year-old's ongoing health issues.

"Nick's family would like to thank the community for their ongoing support, particularly those who have been devoted fans since the van first began rolling doughnuts in the 1970s," it said.

Mr Tsiligiris' daughter, Gina, said: "Nick loved his Footscray and it loved him back tenfold."  

Filmmakers Ian Tran and Rachel Morssink recently made a short film about the Footscray identity, titled Olympic Nick: A Donutumentary.

The 80 cent doughnuts have been a hit with commuters and visitors to the western suburbs train station for almost 40 years. They are filled with hot jam squirted from a nozzle fashioned in the shape of a dolphin's nose.