Romney Brew Station is brewing up good coffee and good times.
You know those stories you hear about someone who has toiled in the food service industry for years, always dreaming of opening their own restaurant someday? This is not one of them. Although she runs a successful cafe today, Jaclynn Graybill’s wish list never included being a restaurant owner.
“I worked in the Air Force for 23 years, and none of those jobs were ever in hospitality,” she says. “But I did have the opportunity to travel all over the world, and I always loved the little cafes I would frequent while stationed overseas.”
Although small in size, Graybill says these places were big on charm. “I loved sitting at the tables, sipping on an espresso and people-watching. It was nice watching loved ones reconnect or just seeing people relaxing and enjoying a book. They just always seemed like happy places.”
Years later, she ended up creating her own happy place in the Mountain State. “COVID is what brought us to West Virginia. My husband, Lloyd, and I were stationed at the Pentagon, and we used to be able to travel anytime we wanted to get a break from city life. After COVID, we couldn’t freely do that anymore, so we drew a big circle around D.C. to see where we could go within a three-hour drive—that’s when we fell in love with Romney. So after my retirement from the military, we decided it was the place to start our next journey.”
While Graybill is not from West Virginia, she says it was the first place she found after leaving the military that truly reminded her of home. And it was that sense of home and community that brought back memories of those cozy cafes she used to frequent in Europe. “When we got to Romney, there was not a place downtown where people could just sit and enjoy each other’s company over a fresh cup of coffee. After asking some of the locals whether they thought a coffee shop would do well here, we decided to give it a try!”
The perfect spot, on West Main Street, was vacant and needed a lot of work. Nonetheless, they decided to bring that old building back to life, purchasing it in late 2021 and opening in February 2023 to offer a wide range of tasty food and fresh coffee.
How fresh? “We roast our own beans, which we also sell in our store. Most coffee shops grind beans that have been sitting for months, but we guarantee you a fresh cup of coffee or espresso that was most likely roasted and ground on-site within the past week.”
Coffee and tea drinks accompany a menu of croissants, muffins, bagels, yogurt parfaits, soups, sandwiches, and more. Recent specials have included a Maple Morning Melt waffle sandwich and a host of fall-inspired drinks spiked with maple, pumpkin, cinnamon, and apple butter.
Although there were difficult times dealing with contractors and permits while trying to get the place up and running, Graybill says she wouldn’t change a thing. “When I look back on that time now, it was well worth it. The most rewarding part is the relationships we have formed and the community we have built. We feel like we’ve created a welcoming space that people love.”
43 West Main Street, Romney, romneybrewstation.com, @romneybrewstation on FB
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S WINTER 2025 ISSUE
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