About Us

The Dreaming Peddler® & The Peddler Wellness Co. were founded by husband & wife team, Jason & Mimi Robbins, in 2020 in the depths of the worldwide COVID pandemic. The pair had migrated from their hometown in Southern California and had just settled in for what they thought would be a nice, comfortable transition into country livin' and a bit of peace and quiet. Well, like the rest of the world, they got more 'peace & quiet' than they'd bargained for when the whole world shut down six months after landing into their new haunt of Longview, a town about 2 hours east of Dallas and 45 minutes west of Louisiana. 

One day during their confinement, Jason and Mimi decided to help out a new business that had just popped up a few blocks away from their new house. It was a coffee shop called Evergreen and, of course, it was also located on Evergreen Street. A sign had been put out that the business was brand new and that they were offering (contactless) service. Mimi and Jason immediately felt for the business, figuring that the plans for opening had most likely been put in motion well before the pandemic and that they'd need all the help they could get. Needless to say, they got a couple of coffees and felt like regular people for a few minutes....out and about, starting to interact with local businesses again. They'd found their new local spot.

On their second trip to the location a few days later Mimi told Jason she'd run in to grab the drinks they'd called in. He left the engine running and sat parked in front of an empty storefront a few doors down from Evergreen. He sat, humming along to some Rick Astley b-side (or something), when he noticed a young couple come out of the coffee shop, drinks in hand. He noticed their eagerness...for simple social contact...for a bit normalcy...for something to do. They stood outside sipping their drinks, looking up and down the empty business park, checking to see if any shops were open where they could walk, chat, sip their drinks together and live a little bit. The guy looked at his date and shrugged. They got into their car and left. Jason felt sorry for them. Jason understood their plight. He looked up at his headlights, beaming into the empty shop into front of him. 

Lightning struck him. Later that evening he told Mimi they'd be opening a store in town. He had an idea that it would be a fun place, full of whimsey and eccentric details. Color and oddities. The stuff of dreams. Where that couple would've wanted to drink their coffees and chat. Within a day they had an LLC. Within two they had a logo and a name. It took Jason four months to transform into The Peddler himself, and the store became the cocoon facilitating the transformation. Mimi asked for a little corner of the store where she could sell crystals. Over the years that corner has transformed into the majority of the store, save for the front-half, which has consistently been reserved for its 'oddities' and eclectic finds. 

The Peddler family has since grown into the thousands, with customers, friends, and family coming in from all corners of the map. As the store approaches its fourth year in the Fall of 2024, Jason and Mimi can't help but look back with gratitude and wonder at the transformation The Dreaming Peddler® has taken on since its humble beginnings in 2020...It really has always had its own momentum...its own life in a way, and The Peddler Family is so thrilled that it's become what it is today. Now, looking to the future, The Peddler's still dreaming, still working late into the night and early mornings, and still growing the company into something bigger, better, and more magical than its ever been. We hope you join us for what's ahead!

T.D.P. - 4/22/2024