A crossing begins
Peter Chima sails from Romania to the United States at nineteen, settling in Newark, Ohio.
Generation 01
First Generation
Peter & Mary Chima.
A partnership for life
Peter returns to Romania and marries Mary Lancea. (We still don't know who the dog is.)
The first storefront
Back in Ohio, the couple help their Romanian friends with foreign exchange and steamship tickets, the first seeds of a travel business.
New citizens
The Chimas earn their United States citizenship.
Chima Travel is born
The family moves to Akron and opens at 1132 S. Main Street, home for the next 49 years. Peter and Mary raise six children: Cornel, Nick, Virgil, George, Mary, and Helen.
Home, by steamship
The family takes its first vacation back to Romania, a steamship voyage none of them would forget.
Generation 02
War Years & Second Generation
Cornel, George, Mary & Helen.
Service & sacrifice
Cornel, Nick, and Virgil join the Air Force; George the Infantry. Virgil is killed in action and George wounded. With travel halted, Peter adds insurance and real estate to keep the doors open.
A new generation takes the helm
Mary, Helen, Cornel, and George join the family business, the second generation of Chima Travel.
Award-winning windows
George's wife Jean decorates the agency's display windows, and wins a third-place prize in a national ASTA contest.
A classroom in Spain
A long partnership with the University of Akron begins, sending students and faculty across the world.
The Theatre Tour
The first New York Thanksgiving Theatre Tour launches with the Akron Beacon Journal. It runs for 44 consecutive years.
Five full buses
Every weekend, George runs buses to the New York World's Fair; some weekends, five full buses.
A new address
After 49 years on S. Main Street, Chima Travel moves to the Wallhaven Building at 1650 W. Market Street.
Finally, Hawaii
When Peter and Mary at last travel somewhere other than Romania, they choose Hawaii, leis and all.
Generation 03
Third Generation
Lance, Craig & Derek Chima.
The world opens up
Lance takes his first international trip, and catches the travel bug for good. He joins the family business in 1977.
Brothers in the business
Craig (1982) and Derek (1985) join Lance, carrying Chima Travel into its third generation.
Sand Run Road
After 23 years in Wallhaven, the agency moves to 52 Sand Run Road. Helen, Mary, and George retire here.
A home of our own
Chima Travel moves to its current home at 55 Merz Blvd in Akron. Cornel and Craig retire from this location.
Generation 04
Fourth Generation
Brian Chima & today's team.
The fourth generation
Brian (the fun Chima) joins the team, the fourth generation to carry the family name.
The team expands
Robin joins the Chima Travel team in 2019.
Teri and Will join in 2022.
Still knowing the way
More than a century on, Chima Travel remains family-owned and Akron-rooted, guiding travelers across the globe, one personal journey at a time.
