General Manager & Wine Director Shuffle at Bankers Hill

In early 2014, J.M. Woody van Horn took over front-of-house management for Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant, and as an accredited Certified Sommelier by the Court of Masters Sommeliers, has also guided their wine program. Van Horn was previously on the opening staff of MARKET Restaurant + Bar in Del Mar, but worked in Napa as manager of Thomas Keller's Bouchon before returning to the Carl Schoeder-led restaurant group.

He's departing Bankers Hill in a few shifts, coincidentally to join Christian Siglin on the team at Little Italy's upcoming Bracero Cocina de Raiz. Van Horn will be general manager and wine director of the seriously anticipated new restaurant, and told Eater that 50% of his wine list for Bracero will be sourced from Baja California.

Stepping up to replace Van Horn at Bankers Hill is Molly Brooks-Thornton, an accredited Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, Certified Specialist of Wine with the Society of Wine Educators, and a Certified Cicerone, who has been a valued member of its management team for over a year.