Бармен из Нью-Браунфелса стал менеджером года и мечтает о собственном ресторане

When Anthony Hill started working as a server at Wings and Rings in New Braunfels at 19 years old, he never thought he would end up where he is today. Hill became general manager of the restaurant two years ago, and his current day-to-day responsibilities include making sure the restaurant is profitable, working with numbers and doing administrative work, keeping his employees happy and thinking of new ways to improve the restaurant. As a manager, he said he also enjoys seeing his employees grow in their careers. “I think my biggest thing in growth here is learning to help others grow, because you get a real sense of accomplishment when you see somebody else grow in their position and then eventually move on to a different career field or something like that,” Hill said. “I’ve always preached to people that this isn’t just a stepping stone. The characteristics that you have here, as far as not being lazy, working hard, being personable, [translate]. My biggest thing is being able to teach other people how to get to that next step.” Although he runs the restaurant now, when he began working at Wings and Rings, Hill said he saw the job as a way to make some “messing around” money while in college. When he was not initially selected for a lead server role, that’s when he said he put his head down and really began working hard. “When I first started, I want to say that I wasn’t giving my full effort, as in coming in every day and being like, ‘This isn’t what I’m going to be doing forever,’” Hill said. “But as the years went on, as I got older and more mature, I wanted to be the guy that everybody came to to solve problems or needed help with their tables or anything like that. I was that person. So when we came up with the [lead server] position, and I wasn't originally considered, I actually kind of took that personally. That was probably my turning point… so I really started picking it up, and then shortly after, I was given that position.” After Hill was promoted to lead server, he worked his way up to being a bartender, then assistant general manager before becoming general manager. During his tenure at Wings and Rings, Hill said he has seen the restaurant go through changes and has seen a lot of growth. While he did not work at the restaurant when it first opened its doors in New Braunfels 20 years ago, he has still seen shifts at the restaurant and has built relationships with regular customers. “From the stories I’ve heard, this place used to be a very hectic, kind of party place, but over the years, that kind of calmed down a little bit and turned towards more of a place where all of the New Braunfels residents can come here to watch sports, but also a good place to hang out and talk,” Hill said. “I see the same bar regulars every single day, seven days a week, so it’s a lot of the same conversations, but there’s a lot of good people that come here.” Hill was named Manager of the Year by the company in 2025, but he said he would not be the manager that he is without his team. “The award wasn't won because of myself, it was because I have a really great team, and the restaurant wouldn’t be as successful as it is without everybody that I have behind me,” Hill said. In the future, Hill said he hopes to find himself in a restaurant ownership position, whether that be at Wings and Rings or elsewhere, but he is happy in his current position. “That’s always been a personal goal of mine,” Hill said. “I’m very happy with where I’m at, and I love my position, but for myself, there’s always something better.” Kaitlynn is the business and lifestyles reporter for the Herald-Zeitung and assistant editor of New Braunfels Monthly. She is a graduate of the University of North Texas, where she worked at the North Texas Daily. Kaitlynn is a sixth-generation Texan who enjoys being outside, reading, live music and spending time with her two cats, Earl and Ringo.