It is one of the properties of rare beauty and unique location of the Athenian Riviera. With ample and luxurious spaces, swimming pools, gardens, courts, a few meters from the sea and with a breathtaking view of the endless blue. The reason is the villa in Anavyssos that belonged to the Nikas family – of the famous sausage industry – and which has its own history.

As “THEMA” reveals today, this unique villa has been put up for sale by a large real estate agency at a price of 20 million euros, which certainly ranks it among the most expensive properties currently for sale in Greece.

The sale has been undertaken by the Greek office of Barnes International Realty. This is one of the most popular international real estate agencies, which certainly has the necessary access to the target group of those who could pay the staggering sum of 20 million euros to acquire a magnificent property in the rapidly rising parallel front of Attica.

The description of the property by the real estate agency is similar to the price, where it talks about “a unique villa in the coastal zone of Anavyssos, in one of the most privileged locations of the Athenian Riviera, with direct access to the beach”, but also about a “private paradise on the beach, and at the same time within walking distance from the capital”.

Radical renovation

According to the post, the land area is close to 8 acres, specifically 7,660 sq ft, the nearly 1,000 sq ft mansion is developed on three levels and has 8 bedrooms. In particular, the villa has a total area of 954 sqm, of which 680 are main rooms and 274 are auxiliary rooms. “Spread over 3 levels, it combines luxury and modern aesthetics, creating an ideal space for relaxation and tranquility”, as highlighted.

On the ground floor there is a spacious living room with a comfortable dining area and a fully equipped kitchen, while the open-plan layout connects the interiors to the wonderful outdoor spaces. On the same level there is also 1 en-suite bedroom, as well as the service rooms with their bathrooms.

The 1st floor has 2 en-suite bedrooms, including 1 master, which has magnificent sea views, while the second bedroom has direct access to the pool on this level. On the lower level, the facilities include 3 additional en-suite bedrooms, two guest rooms with bathrooms, changing rooms and plenty of storage space.

The exterior of the villa is equally impressive and includes the main swimming pool with seating areas, beautifully landscaped gardens, tennis court and a Padel court. Furthermore, the covered parking area can accommodate up to six cars. As noted, the residence has been recently renovated with high quality materials and offers unique views from both the indoor and outdoor areas. Finally, the Energy Performance Certificate is currently being issued.

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For those who were familiar with this property in person or from past photos, the radical renovation is obvious both inside and around the property.

Undoubtedly, this is one of the most privileged properties that have come up for sale this season, as it is built literally a breath away from the sea and in front of a beautiful but not “private” beach. And this is because access to it is free, so during the summer months many people flood it to get a breath of fresh air.

It is worth mentioning that in the same area there are several impressive properties of well-known shipowner and business families, such as Tsakos, Prokopiou and Polemis, which give it an even more intense colour of luxury.

Double the price

It should also be noted that the asking price today is double what the Nika family sought to collect in the past. But this is obviously justified on the one hand by the fact that the property has undergone a significant investment for its renovation. On the other hand, of course, by its location, in a strategic point of the Athenian Riviera, which is becoming one of the most “hot” destinations due to its transformation and soaring values, with mega project of Elliniko, with the ultra-luxury “One & Only Aesthesis” in Asteria Glyfada, as well as with a number of other major investments. A further reason is that of course the real estate market has now entered a completely different phase and a strongly upward trend compared to even a few years earlier.

It was almost a decade ago, in May 2015, when “THEMA” revealed the first sale for this particular villa. It was at a time when the country was mired in the economic crisis and the Nika family, particularly the son of the iconic sausage maker Panagiotis Nika, George, had already spread his wings on the other side of the Atlantic. With the heavy clouds of the recession having flattened business and the real estate market, the Nika family decided to put their impressive villa for sale, located in a picturesque creek with a small beach facing the island of Azerdas.

Even in those stone years, this particular mansion ranked among the most expensive properties on the Greek market. That’s why it was entrusted to one of the largest and most historic Greek real estate agencies to find a buyer, with a price in the… highs – for the time – of 11 million euros. With this bar, the villa of the Nika family joined the “gold list” of domestic real estate, conquering, along with two other properties of the Tigas family, the first place in terms of prices in the entire coastal zone of Attica. For that period, however, that price was prohibitive. According to expert real estate appraisers, the luxury property could fetch a price of around 8 million euros…

The real estate agency’s advertisement at the time stated that “this unique seaside property is located near Saronida on an idyllic sandy beach. Built by a well-known architect, the villa is over 550 sq.m. and features a modern living room with a magnificent view of the Saronic Gulf, an office, a gourmet kitchen, a master bedroom-suite with a living room and its own pool, 4 guest rooms and 3 staff rooms. There is a large central swimming pool, tennis and mini-soccer court, and a door at the edge of the garden leads to the sandy beach.” According to the figures at the time, the property’s objective value was 1,538,000 euros. From a comparison with the current advertisement it is obvious the changes that have taken place in the property.

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Unclaimed

The Nika family’s insistence on the 11 million euro bar resulted in the villa, at that stage, being left unclaimed. This, however, was something that still didn’t seem to bother George Nika, who had put down solid roots in the US, starting with the “Great Round” project. The business success of the company he set up with Nikos Loutsa was great, with the now internationalised Megas Yeeros recording a remarkable performance in the American market.

However, it did not take long for G. Nikas to leave the company in order to make the next bet. He did so by setting up GRK Fresh Greek in 2009, based in Manhattan, which had as its main concept the launch of Greek cuisine with a focus on gyros. In the fall of 2012, he opened his first store in New York City, followed by nine more in the U.S., as well as in Doha and Dubai, and he indicates that he has every intention of moving permanently to the Big Apple, where he was residing in a luxury apartment on the opulent 5th Avenue.

G. Nikas’ “American dream”, however, collapsed overnight when the well-known insider trading scandal was revealed in October 2019. Thus followed the return to Greece and the reconstruction operation. According to reports, the luxury villa in Anavyssos, with its uninterrupted view of the Saronic Gulf, was his ideal refuge during that difficult period.

It was then that he reportedly picked up the thread for its sale again, starting from the bar of 11 million euros, which again proved to be “unaffordable”. He reportedly took an unyielding stance in negotiations with prospective buyers, betting on a change of climate and a gradual revival of buyer interest in “good pieces” of domestic real estate, let alone such a prime property.

But his expectations were dashed and when it was found that there was no “suitor” willing to pay 11 million euros, he was forced to retreat step by step, reaching, according to the same information, to “discuss” it even around 3.5 million euros.

The Mystery

In any case, the development of the case is shrouded in a shroud of mystery. For yes, the “information” that the expensive villa was changing hands was circulated in the real estate circle at least three times, but with the constant echo shortly afterwards that the transaction was not completed for various reasons. Whether this finally happened and with which buyer cannot be confirmed, at least by those who were directly or indirectly involved in the case.

However, in the fall of 2019, the sale was still being advertised by some major real estate agencies. At the same time, according to some sources, maintenance work had begun on the villa, but this was interrupted as soon as the scandal aired in America. Thus, until then, the luxury property is believed to have been still in the hands of G. Nika. Shortly afterwards, however, it was allegedly sold at a price much lower than what he was originally asking.

Although there is no clear picture of the property’s ownership path over the last few years up to the present day, it is certain that it is now looking for its “next day” to the… lucky person who can put his hand so deep in his pocket that he can pay the exorbitant sum of 20 million euros to acquire it.