Nikos Andrianakos has a very good reason to be smiling, having finalised a major deal with Caltex for the large sum of $95 million, though he admits there were mixed feelings.
“Without doubt, from a commercial point of view, it is a very good deal,” Mr Andrianakos said.
“But these stations were more like children to me. They began with hard struggles; I developed them, admired them, and it has not been easy for me to part with them.”
So it’s not surprising that the negotiations took close to two years to complete, resulting in the sale of 46 of his petrol stations.
But he’s not out of the business entirely.
“I only sold the businesses,” Mr Andrianakos told Neos Kosmos editor-in-chief Sotiris Hazimanolis.
“The premises themselves are still mine, and will be let out to Caltex. It is a very good deal.”
And there’s no denying that, given the impressive sale price and significant revenue, the businessman will continue to generate from rents.
Meanwhile, two petrol stations remain in his name and he plans to open a third. For the future, he revealed that together with his family, he will be turning the focus to real estate given that the family already have a farm and winery to their name.
“We have real estate and some land that we are planning to develop,” Mr Andrianakos said.
“I am pleased that my hard work, and that of my family, is being acknowledged. I say this because I came to Australia penniless from Greece. My estate was built through endless hours of work, toil and agony, but also through honesty.
“I really believe that God gives to those who are just.”
On top of his material success, Mr Andrianakos has also managed to give back to the Greek Australian community, having contributed to the development of Alphington Grammar’s Andrianakos Centre, the Greek Cultural Centre and Fronditha Care, among other initiatives within the diaspora.