Art
Latin American art and creative expression integrated into the physical experience.
A Legacy Venture Founded by Yovanna Reiser
CHIMOLE®
Art Gallery • Wine & Tapas Bar • Cultural Experience
Historic Downtown Leesburg, Virginia | 2012–2018
A historical venture, no longer in operation — preserved here as an award-winning chapter in the entrepreneurial journey behind YMR Holdings LLC.
Introduction
More Than a Restaurant
CHIMOLE® was created as more than a restaurant. It was an immersive celebration of Latin American heritage that brought together original art, authentic cuisine, wine, music, cultural traditions, family history, and community under one roof.
Founded by Yovanna Reiser in historic downtown Leesburg, Virginia, CHIMOLE® became a recognized destination for food, culture, art, entertainment, and community.
Entrepreneurship
Built From an Idea
Founder • Owner • Executive Chef
Yovanna Reiser conceived and developed the CHIMOLE® concept from the ground up — designing the brand, the experience, the operating model, and the culinary program, then leading the team that delivered it daily.
The work was systems thinking and experience design as much as hospitality: translating an idea into repeatable processes, a distinct brand, and a place people returned to.
01
Business concept and strategy
02
Brand and customer experience
03
Restaurant operations
04
Processes and procedures
05
Menu and culinary concepts
06
Art gallery experience
07
Cultural programming
08
Events and entertainment
09
Vendor relationships
10
Staffing and team management
11
Community partnerships
12
Marketing and brand development
The Experience
Art • Culture • Cuisine • Community
Culture
Music, traditions, cultural events, storytelling, and Latin American heritage.
Cuisine
Authentic culinary experiences developed and led by Yovanna as Executive Chef.
Community
A gathering place in downtown Leesburg where people from different backgrounds could experience culture, food, music, and connection.
Recognition
Recognition & Awards
- 2013
12th Annual Leesburg Business Awards
Rising Star Award
CHIMOLE® received the Rising Star Award recognizing a new Leesburg business that distinguished itself through exemplary achievement.
- 2013
Northern Virginia Magazine
Northern Virginia Magazine Feature
CHIMOLE® was featured by Northern Virginia Magazine in coverage highlighting its distinctive combination of art gallery, wine, tapas, culture, and hospitality in historic downtown Leesburg.
Read the feature - 2014
November 21, 2014
Minority Chamber of Commerce
The National Female Small Business Owner of the Year
Yovanna Reiser was recognized by the Minority Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. at its 14th Annual National Minority Gala Award Ceremony.
The award was presented for her dedication to promoting diversity with excellence in the achievement of results in her community, and for reflecting the priorities of the multicultural effects in America, breadth of impact, while demonstrating key leadership competencies and excellence in citizen-focused service delivery.
Cultural Impact & Institutional Connections
Culture Beyond the Gallery
Art, Heritage & Cultural Exchange
Beyond hospitality, CHIMOLE® participated in broader cultural and institutional experiences — connecting Latin American art, heritage, and craftsmanship with audiences, institutions, and communities outside of Leesburg.
2012Smithsonian
National Museum of the American Indian
CHIMOLE® & the Smithsonian
In 2012, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian acquired Lenca cultural works through Chimole LLC, the Leesburg gallery founded by Yovanna Reiser.
Smithsonian collection records identify Chimole LLC as the source of selected Lenca objects acquired for the museum’s collection, including ceramic works from Honduras. A Lenca vessel acquired from Chimole LLC also appeared in educational materials associated with the exhibition Cerámica de los Ancestros: Central America’s Past Revealed.
September 19, 2012Cultural Events
Washington, D.C.
Taste of Honduras
CHIMOLE® sponsored and participated in the Taste of Honduras event in Washington, D.C., presenting art and crafts from the CHIMOLE® Art Gallery.
August 2012Cultural Events
Historic Downtown Leesburg
CHIMOLE® Art Gallery Opening
The CHIMOLE® Art Gallery opening in Leesburg welcomed Jorge Ramón Hernández-Alcerro, then Ambassador of Honduras to the United States, and Leesburg Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd.
August 28–29, 2014Cultural Events
Hotel Hamilton Crowne Plaza • Washington, D.C.
2nd Honduras Trade & Investment Forum
Yovanna Reiser and CHIMOLE® participated in the 2nd Honduras Trade & Investment Forum in Washington, D.C., an event focused on strengthening business relationships and exploring opportunities in Honduras.
- August 28–29, 2014
- Hotel Hamilton Crowne Plaza
- 1001 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
Provenance note: records identify Chimole LLC as the source of selected works acquired for the museum collection. Individual object attributions follow museum documentation.
People, Events & Community
A Place Where People Connected
Community • Culture • Conversation
Over the years, CHIMOLE® became a gathering place for community leaders, artists, athletes, public figures, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, visitors, and friends — often bringing people together through art, culture, cuisine, conversation, music, and shared experiences.
August 27, 2012Special Guests
Special Guest
Visit from Tim Kaine
On August 27, 2012, Tim Kaine visited the CHIMOLE® art gallery in historic downtown Leesburg, where he met with Yovanna Reiser and reflected on his own experiences in Honduras.
- August 27, 2012
- CHIMOLE® Art Gallery
- 10 South King Street, Leesburg, Virginia
October 2, 2014Community
Community Roundtable
Roundtable Discussion with Senator Mark R. Warner
CHIMOLE® served as the Leesburg venue for a community roundtable discussion with U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner on October 2, 2014.
Held at CHIMOLE®'s historic downtown Leesburg location at 10 South King Street, the gathering provided an opportunity for participants to hear an update on Senator Warner's work in the U.S. Senate and to participate in a community discussion and question-and-answer session.
- October 2, 2014
- 4:45 PM – 6:00 PM
- CHIMOLE®
- 10 South King Street, Leesburg, Virginia
The original event invitation identified the gathering as a roundtable discussion and specifically stated that it was not a fundraiser.
January 6, 2013Special Guests
The Cooley Gallery
First Friday with Chris Cooley
Yovanna Reiser joined Chris Cooley at The Cooley Gallery during a First Friday event in downtown Leesburg, part of the community arts programming that connected CHIMOLE® with neighboring galleries and local visitors.
December 13, 2014Community
Downtown Leesburg
Community Holiday Gathering
Yovanna Reiser attended Senator Jennifer Wexton's holiday gathering in downtown Leesburg with Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring and Linda McCray.
Presented as a neutral historical community record from the founder's archive.
November 13, 2015Special Guests
Downtown Leesburg
With Tom Keifer at the Tally Ho
Yovanna Reiser met Tom Keifer of Cinderella at the Tally Ho Theater in downtown Leesburg.
July 9, 2013Special Guests
Celebrating 40 years of marriage at CHIMOLE®
Al Saunders
Football coach Al Saunders and his wife celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with friends at CHIMOLE®.
June 2015Special Guests
Special guest at CHIMOLE®
Ken Harvey
Former Washington professional football player Ken Harvey visited CHIMOLE® in June 2015.
December 2014Special Guests
Special guest at CHIMOLE®
Jaime Moreno
Bolivian soccer player and longtime D.C. United figure Jaime Moreno visited CHIMOLE® in December 2014.
July 6, 2016Special Guests
Leesburg, Virginia
Tony Goldwyn Visits CHIMOLE®
Actor and director Tony Goldwyn visited CHIMOLE® in Leesburg in July 2016 during a local political campaign event.
2012–2018Media
Travel Gal Susan & Cerphe
Eco Planet Radio
Travel Gal Susan and Cerphe from Eco Planet Radio were among the media and cultural personalities who visited CHIMOLE® during its years in downtown Leesburg.
Cultural Experiences
2012–2018Cultural Events
Latin American Film Festival
A Place in the Caribbean / Un Lugar en el Caribe
CHIMOLE® hosted a wine tasting and meet-the-filmmakers event connected with the Latin American Film Festival presentation of A Place in the Caribbean / Un Lugar en el Caribe.
Culinary & International Representation
From Leesburg to Washington
Representing Culture Through Cuisine
The CHIMOLE® kitchen carried Honduran and Latin American cuisine beyond Leesburg — onto national stages in Washington, D.C. where food became a form of cultural representation.
May 2017Embassy Chef Challenge
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, D.C.
Embassy Chef Challenge — Chef Representing Honduras
Executive Chef Yovanna Reiser represented Honduras at the 2017 Embassy Chef Challenge in Washington, D.C., presenting Honduran cuisine alongside chefs representing countries from around the world.
August 3, 2017Citi Open
Citi Open, Washington, D.C.
Embassy Chef Showcase at the Citi Open
Following the Embassy Chef Challenge, Yovanna Reiser was selected to participate in the Embassy Chef Showcase at the Citi Open professional tennis tournament in Washington, D.C.
The showcase featured a select group of participating chefs presenting international cuisine to tournament guests, with participating embassies including Barbados, Chile, Honduras, the Philippines and Peru.
In the Media
2012–2018Media
Taste of NoVA
Taste of NoVA Featured Restaurant
CHIMOLE® was presented as Taste of NoVA’s October featured restaurant, highlighting its art-gallery experience, Honduran and Latin American cuisine, wine, cigars, music, and cultural atmosphere.
2017Media
Local television coverage
Television Appearance
Yovanna Reiser appeared in local television coverage highlighting CHIMOLE® and her participation as a chef at major Washington-area culinary events.
Television Appearance
Video thumbnail
Press & Recognition
Selected Articles & Archival Sources
External articles, award coverage, artist references, and event resources documenting chapters of the CHIMOLE® story.
Photo Archive
The CHIMOLE® Years
2012–2018
Authentic photographs from the CHIMOLE® years. Filter by subject, then select a frame to view it larger.
The Through-Line
From CHIMOLE® to YMR Holdings
CHIMOLE® represents one of the clearest early expressions of the philosophy that now runs through YMR Holdings: meaningful transformation happens when people, creativity, culture, systems, experience, and purpose are brought together.
What began as an art gallery evolved into a cultural and culinary destination — and, in the process, became another laboratory for learning how ideas become experiences, how communities form around them, and how thoughtful systems allow creativity to become something sustainable.
The business eventually closed, but the lessons did not. They became part of the broader body of experience behind YMR Holdings today.
Explore YMR Holdings Today