Teresa Calvert curates timeless style and local charm at her Romney boutique, The White House on Main.
written by ALISHA JARRETT
photographed by NIKKI BOWMAN MILLS AND CARLA WITT FORD
TERESA CALVERT WAS WORKING AS A PEDIATRIC NURSE in Cumberland, Maryland, when she decided to switch directions and follow her dream of opening a boutique. “I grew up seeing how a small business was run. You could say I caught the bug early, and opening a store was always my ultimate life goal,” she says.
One day, while driving down Main Street in her hometown of Romney, Calvert came across a gorgeous historic house for sale. She whipped around the block quickly, thinking, “Wait a minute—this could be the perfect opportunity.” She purchased the charismatic old property soon after, and in 2021, The White House on Main was born.
“Our location is beautiful, and I’ve restored it even further and brought it to life,” Calvert says. “Many people have visited our shop and said it reminds them of Charleston, South Carolina.” The historic, yet modern building is undoubtedly one of Romney’s most beautiful structures and serves as an unofficial ambassador to out-of-towners—the “front line” for the town, as Calvert explains it. “We love giving suggestions and recommendations to tourists on where the best food is or which places have the prettiest scenery.”
The White House boutique sells various items, with brands such as Simply Southern, Judy Blue jeans, enewton jewelry, and WVU apparel. Calvert also features her clothing brand, Free to Be Me in WV. “My staff and I curate every piece of merchandise in the shop,” she says. “I would never put anything on the shelves that I wouldn’t wear myself or feel comfortable giving to someone as a gift.”
Additionally, the store features locally made items, gourmet products sourced from local farms, and much more. On the boutique’s second floor, guests can visit a new wine-tasting room called 1762 at the White House, which Calvert owns with her sister. They offer selections from across the globe and have expanded their support of local businesses by including West Virginia wines, too.
The White House on Main is on Route 50 in Romney, across from Calvert’s country store, The Country Store on Main. Both are popular with locals and tourists. “It gives me such joy when someone brings their friends or family in from out of town and says, ‘We always have to come in here, because it feels like home,’” Calvert says with a smile. “It feels great.”
205 East Main Street, Romney, thewhitehouseonmain.com, @thewhitehouseonmain on FB
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SPRING 2025 ISSUE
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