Founded by Sperl’s parents Terry and Cheryl Gaulke in March 2018 originally in Kimball, the restaurateur says the couple brought 25 years of experience as respected chefs to take the leap to open a place of their own. Sperl also had a lot of hospitality under her belt, working alongside her parents in the industry since the age of 13.
“Although I built a successful career in business management and nonprofit leadership, I continually found myself returning to help at The Smoking Mule— sometimes out of necessity, and often simply because I enjoyed it,” recalled Sperl. “Over time, it became clear where my true passion belonged.”
In 2022, she made the decision to leave her corporate career to join the eatery full time, prepping to purchase the business in 2025 as her parents transitioned into retirement. General manager Dayre Evans recalls Sperl and the team’s commitment to The Smoking Mule early on.
OWNER ERICA SPERL & GENERAL MANAGER DAYRE EVANS
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