Dyersburg, TN - November 5, 2025 - Stacey Cook, owner of Off the Square, never imagined her passion project would grow into two successful storefronts. In 2018, while working full-time as a registered nurse, she began creating hand-crafted luxury bath products for her friends.
"I started making hand-crafted luxury bath products for my friends...My friends really enjoyed my gifts and eventually kept encouraging me to open a store...So, in 2018, I opened a gift store, and my Esty store eventually became a top gift store on the platform. When that happened, I thought, 'Well, maybe I want to grow this business.' At that time, it had only been a hobby but that's what led me to Off the Square," Cook explained.
That leap of faith led Cook to a booth in the back of Off the Square in March 2022, where her handmade products lined just three shelves. Within a year, those shelves grew to five, and she was presented with the unexpected opportunity to buy the store. "I loved what it stood for and loved the potential," she said.
By 2023, she officially became the owner.
The Paris, TN location now features 14 vendors and serves as the flagship store, while a second, smaller location opened in October 2023 in downtown Martin, right on the edge of the UT-Martin campus. “I found myself saying that Martin could really use an [Off the Square], so in October 2023, we took a second very large leap of faith and opened a location in Martin,” Cook said.
Today, Off the Square offers a wide variety of products including men’s and women’s clothing (sizes S–3X), jewelry, shoes, home fragrance, travel gear, and unique gifts. The Paris store also provides vendor booths for budding entrepreneurs looking for an affordable start, while the Martin location features an exclusive line of sorority gifts.
"We offer a men's selection so the ladies can shop," Cook laughed. "We also have some vendors offering children's clothing and gifts." She added that Off the Square caters to all budgets and occasions, from casual looks to formalwear, and is especially known for its game-day apparel.
But Cook is clear that Off the Square is about more than just retail. "We love to be part of helping families celebrate those big moments in sisterhood, big days, birthdays, everything,” she shared. “We work hard to create an environment that's not solely focused on sales. We want our customers to have an experience when they come in...you know, we want to talk about their day and what's going on in their life, not just try to sell them something."
Helping customers find the perfect outfit has become one of her favorite parts of the job. "I love to help women find that right outfit or dress. It's like a challenge—finding something they'll feel confident in, feel pretty, and just makes their day brighter."
Cook says the mission of Off the Square is simple yet meaningful: to create a space where people feel welcome, celebrated, and inspired. "When I first started this journey, I thought it was just about having a store. I've learned that it's more about the impact that we make every day. You're not just opening the door and checking out customers. You're finding out what they need. What makes their day better. What makes their day brighter."
Check out Off the Square by visiting: Off the Square -- Women's Contemporary Boutique
About The Mill Workspace: The Mill Workspace, a DBA of Northwest Tennessee Entrepreneurship, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)3 entrepreneur center located in Dyersburg, TN and focused on serving entrepreneurs in the nine counties of Northwest Tennessee. They help businesses through one-on-one counseling, workshops, and multi-week programs all designed to help businesses in the region start up and grow.
Programs at The Mill are funded in part by a grant from LaunchTN.
