Mike Spoerndle

Michael E. Spoerndle (December 16, 1951 – May 6, 2011) was an American businessman based in New Haven, Connecticut. Known as "the man who made Connecticut rock," he was the founder and original owner of Toad's Place, a New Haven concert venue and nightclub, in 1976. It is still in operation today.

Early life Spoerndle was born in 1951 in Akron, Ohio, to Harry E. Spoerndle and Margaret Elizabeth Bragg. The family lived in Fairview Park.

After high school, Spoerndle graduated from The Culinary Institute of America. The new name was derived from a childhood joke. He said: "When my parents were going out to dinner, they would tell me they were going to such-and-such, and I thought it would be funny if they said, 'We're going to Toad's Place.' Plus, people who didn't go out and stayed at home, we'd call them 'toads.' It was the equivalent of a couch potato."

Spoerndle worked with local musician Peter Menta and promoter Jim Koplik to bring in bands.

Regarding Muddy Waters' appearance, Spoerndle overestimated the audience draw and had to pay part of the artist's fee with money from the register. He had to borrow $150 in order to be able to open the venue the following day.

In 1983, Spoerndle opened a second Toad's location, in Waterbury, Connecticut, but it closed after three years.

Spoerndle arranged a surprise performance of the Rolling Stones at Toad's Place on August 12, 1989, having promoted it as a private birthday party for Koplik.

Death Spoerndle died in 2011, aged 59. The cause of death was unknown.