Yolanda Feldstein’s two decades-long career in the technology and computing industry largely met her career aspirations.

She had risen to management positions at a large San Antonio tech firm. There were no real reasons to look elsewhere for work opportunities other than the leisurely thoughts that drifted into her mind during visits to South Padre Island. The Island is where her husband Zack proposed to her. It has always been the couple’s favorite beach, even after visiting better known resort areas like Key West, Fla.

In the latter part of 2022, Yolanda began to envision living on the Island. Could her husband, who’s also in the tech field, work remotely from home if they relocated? The answer was yes. What could Feldstein do on the Island if she gave up her tech job in San Antonio?

The answer, after giving it much thought and scouting South Padre, landed on an intriguing possibility. The Feldsteins would open a wine bar.

Following A Dream

It’s a late spring morning at the SPI Wine Bar and Yolanda Feldstein is getting her business ready to receive customers when it opens later that day.

A distributor has just left after a discussion about what wines are finding favor with customers and a look at other selections that might do the same. Feldstein aims for an interesting mix of wines from around the world that are not readily found at nearby competitors. She wants to stock more Texas-sourced wines and spoke of the challenges of getting them to her startup business.

It’s hardly the only issue to be dealt with for a wine bar that opened in April. Feldstein says the level of marketing and promotions needed to get word out about a new business is more than she imagined. She also spoke of breaking into the core of loyalties that Island-based residents have for their favorite businesses.

Despite it all, Feldstein expressed few doubts about the path taken in relocating to South Padre and pursuing an endeavor unlike anything she has ever done. 

“I wanted to do it and I’m doing it,” Feldstein said. “I moved away from everyone to follow this dream, I feel that it has to be successful.”

Fitting Right In

The SPI Wine Bar is airy and artsy with an open concept at 2,500 square feet.

It’s big enough to take up the equivalent of two suites on the 4000 block of Padre Boulevard. The Island is big on art these days and the wine bar fits right in. The work of seven SPI-area artists lines the walls of the business. Feldstein describes her wine bar as “a very chill type of place.” The business is new enough that it has yet to go through the Island’s full cycle of commerce that ranges from the busy months of spring and summer before the slower months of fall and winter set in. 

The wine bar did experience the tail end of the 2023 Winter Texan season and is now tapping into the busy summer tourist months. Bachelorette and birthday parties have already been hosted at the wine bar. An artist showcase in mid-June promoted Island art and the new business as well. Feldstein and her husband are all in as they determine if their observation of South Padre needing a wine bar rings true.

“We’re figuring out where we fit into that space,” she said of the Island’s entertainment and bar landscape. 

Some early reviews indicate the wine bar is fitting in quite well. Christina Salazar, in an online review, praised SPI Wine Bar for its “artistic atmosphere, unique wine selection,” adding she “will definitely make it my wine spot on South Padre Island.”

Feldstein is grateful for those kind words in feeling the positive vibes of what she calls “the tippy tip of the state and country.”