Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
Alex Hoehle and Nicole Hoffman own and operate Steel City Chiropractic in Vestavia Hills.
When Nicole Hoffman met Alex Hoehle on the first day of chiropractic school in Dallas, she never imagined she would one day leave Texas.
Not for a job.
Not for a business.
And certainly not for Alabama.
“I never wanted to leave home,” Hoffman said with a laugh. “It’s hard to take a girl out of Texas.”
Today, however, she is thankful to be living in Vestavia Hills.
Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha
Alex Hoehle and Nicole Hoffman say they enjoy working together at Steel City Chiropractic.
The married co-owners of Steel City Chiropractic recently opened their practice on Devereux Circle, combining chiropractic care, rehabilitation and personalized treatment plans designed to help patients not only recover from injuries but stay healthy for years to come.
For Hoehle, the move represented a homecoming. He grew up in Vestavia Hills. But for Hoffman, it meant leaving behind her family, career and comfort zone for a new life hundreds of miles away. It was a decision driven by love, family and a shared vision of helping people live healthier lives.
Before chiropractic school, Hoffman worked as a buyer for a major retail company, and like many people during the pandemic, she began reevaluating her future. A series of injuries had introduced her to chiropractic care years earlier, and the results were life changing.
“I had experienced injuries, and chiropractic care helped me tremendously,” Hoffman said. “I became interested in conservative care and helping people improve their quality of life without immediately turning to medications or surgery.”
At the same time, she was working in sales and began feeling constrained by the corporate environment. She wanted something more meaningful. Something that allowed her to work directly with people.
That search for a more meaningful career led her to Parker University in Dallas, where an unexpected meeting would change the course of her life.
On the first day of class in 2021, she met a fellow student named Alex Hoehle.
“I thought he was easy to connect with and had a great personality,” Hoffman said. “From the very beginning, he was friendly and genuine.”
Hoehle noticed her, as well. “I was attracted to her from the start,” he said. “She was smart, confident and incredibly driven.”
At first, they were simply classmates. Then study partners. Then friends. Three months passed before they finally went on their first date — or at least what was supposed to be a date.
“We thought we were just hanging out,” Hoffman said with a laugh.
The pair spent time exploring hiking trails and lakes around North Texas. Conversations stretched for hours. Eventually, both realized the friendship had become something more.
For the two, chiropractic school was demanding, and the shared experience brought them closer together.
“The trauma of school bonded us,” Hoehle joked.
The relationship moved quickly. They dated for a year, remained engaged for another year and married on Dec. 16, 2023. But there was only one challenge looming in the distance. Even before the wedding, Hoehle had begun dropping hints about returning home to Alabama. At first, Hoffman dismissed the idea. Then the hints became more frequent.
“He definitely planted the seed, but I was very apprehensive about leaving home,” Hoffman admitted. “Texas was home. My family lived there. My friends lived there. My professional network was there.”
Beside all of that, Texas had a lot of other appeals. “There’s great food, great jobs, lots of activities and opportunities,” Hoffman said. “Fort Worth has this unique blend of Wild West history and modern growth, and I loved it.”
Still, Hoehle’s desire to return home never faded.
Born and raised in Vestavia Hills, he wanted to be closer to family. His nieces and nephews were growing up there, and his parents were nearby. He envisioned raising a family in the same community that had shaped him.
Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha
Even though Nicole Hoffman says she enjoys living and working in Alabama, she will never let go of her Texas roots.
The more the couple discussed it, the more Hoffman began to see the appeal. “I love my husband, and family is really important to him,” she said. “I wanted to be supportive.”
Today, she has no regrets. “I’m so glad we live here, and everyone has been so welcoming.”
What surprised Hoffman most was the rhythm of life. “I don’t feel like my cortisol levels are as high,” she said with a laugh. “It’s more relaxed here than Texas.”
To Hoffman, Birmingham also feels more personal and connected compared to many rapidly growing Texas cities. “It’s easier to build relationships here,” she said.
The move became even more meaningful when her mother, Martina, relocated to Alabama last September. Having family nearby has transformed the experience.
“It made a huge difference to us for my family to be here, also,” Hoffman said.
With Birmingham beginning to feel like home, the couple turned their attention to a dream they had discussed since chiropractic school, and in September 2025, they opened Steel City Chiropractic.
The clinic reflects the philosophy both developed while studying chiropractic medicine, human strength and performance. Their goal is not simply getting patients out of pain. It is to help them stay out of pain.
Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha
Alex Hoehle works with a patient on the decompression table.
According to the practice’s approach, treatment begins with identifying the root cause of a problem rather than simply addressing symptoms. Patients undergo evaluations designed to assess muscles, joints, discs, movement patterns and functional limitations.
From there, individualized treatment plans combine chiropractic adjustments with corrective exercises and rehabilitation.
“We want long-term stability for our patients,” Hoehle said. “We don’t want them feeling better for a week and then ending up right back where they started.”
That philosophy aligns with the clinic’s broader mission. According to their website, Steel City Chiropractic focuses on helping patients move better, perform better and live healthier lives through evidence-based chiropractic care and rehabilitation strategies.
The goal is to empower patients to take ownership of their health. “We view chiropractic care as part of a healthy lifestyle,” Hoffman said.
Running the business together has brought rewards, as well as challenges.
The couple quickly discovered that entrepreneurship does not end when the office closes. Conversations about patients, scheduling, marketing and business operations often follow them home.
“There were definitely moments where all our focus was on work, but we collaborate in a beautiful way,” Hoehle said.
Both Hoehle and Hoffman agree the experience has strengthened their relationship. They have learned to communicate more effectively, trust each other and rely on each other’s strengths.
Despite the challenges, both say the sacrifices have been worth it.
Less than a year after opening, Steel City Chiropractic continues building its patient base through referrals and community relationships. The couple remains focused on serving Vestavia Hills and surrounding communities.
For Hoehle, returning home has been everything he hoped it would be. For Hoffman, Alabama has become something she never expected.
“It wasn’t easy leaving Texas,” she said. “But now I understand why Alex wanted to come back.”
For a woman who once swore she would never leave Texas, that is about the highest compliment Alabama can receive.
