For many business owners, growth does not happen in one simple step. It often takes planning, persistence and a financial ally willing to understand the full picture, not just the numbers on paper.
For Diana Niceley, owner of Doubletake Salon & Beauty Store in Florence, Kentucky, that support came at a critical moment. Having owned the iconic "big green building" on the corner of Main Street and Girard in Florence since 2019, Diana had already invested years into building her business and creating opportunities for other local entrepreneurs. When financial challenges after her divorce threatened her ability to maintain ownership of the property and continue moving her vision forward, she needed a banking partner willing to look beyond a credit score and understand everything she had built.
Creating Opportunity Under One Roof
Diana's vision extended far beyond operating a successful salon. Since purchasing the historic building in 2019, she had been steadily transforming the property into a destination for small businesses, entrepreneurs and visitors in Florence's Main Street district. Over time, the building became home to multiple businesses while serving as a place where community and commerce could thrive together.
Today, the building is home to Doubletake Salon & Beauty Store, The Body Art Empire, Iron Crow Tattoo, Mi Rincon, three short-term rental apartments and additional space available for future tenants and salon professionals looking to grow their own businesses.
When additional financing became necessary, she wasn't simply seeking a loan. She was protecting an investment she had already poured years of hard work into while continuing to expand the opportunities the building could provide.
“It was so important for me to hold ownership of my building because not only did I have everything invested with my career and the way I was to provide for my three kids as a single female, but I also provide commercial space for whole families that count on my ownership when it comes to providing for their families as well.”
– Diana Niceley
Diana's commitment extends far beyond her own business. Like a community bank investing in its neighbors, she remains committed to supporting the tenants who rely on her building to grow their businesses and provide for their own families.
Looking Beyond the Credit Score
Like many business owners, Diana's path to financing was not without challenges.
Following her divorce, she worked hard to rebuild her financial foundation and improve her credit score, a process that required patience, discipline and determination. Even so, her credit profile still presented obstacles that made the possibility of securing a commercial loan uncertain. While her credit score did not fully reflect the strength of her business vision, Ryan Bihl, Heritage Bank Commercial Lender, saw the bigger picture. He recognized her commitment, her perseverance and the potential in what she was building, and he was willing to advocate for her.
"A credit score only tells part of the story. When I met Diana, I saw someone with a clear vision, a strong work ethic and a genuine commitment to her business and community. We wanted to understand the whole picture and help her find a path forward."
– Ryan Bihl, Commercial Loan Officer
Instead of saying no from the start or abandoning Diana's request when obstacles arose, Ryan Bihl worked with Diana to help her understand what needed to happen to put her in a stronger financial position. He brought in Peter Weickgenannt, Heritage Bank Senior Lender, and together they toured the space to better understand the full opportunity. From there, they identified steps that could help improve her financial standing and move her closer to qualifying for the commercial financing she needed.
Pictured above: Ryan Bihl, Heritage Bank Commercial Loan Officer and Diana Niceley.
A Plan for Moving Forward
Those steps included closing a few credit cards, selling her Doubletake Salon & Beauty Boutique building in Williamstown, KY, and reconsolidating and paying off debt.
It was not an overnight process. It required patience, communication and a banker who was willing to stay engaged throughout the process. Diana later recognized Ryan for his dedication and patience throughout the six-month process, noting the extra effort he put in to help close the deal and meet important deadlines.
"Ryan showed up for me and not just with encouragement, but also in the due diligence it took to get the loan closed finally by making a trip to Jewish Hospital to have documentation notarized and signed in person.”
– Diana Niceley
Preserving a Vision Years in the Making
By the time Diana connected with Heritage Bank, she had already owned the "big green building" for several years and had begun turning it into the thriving business hub she envisioned. However, maintaining ownership of a historic commercial property while continuing to invest in improvements, tenants and future growth required access to capital.
Following months of planning and collaboration, Heritage Bank helped structure financing solutions that supported both Diana's immediate needs and long-term goals, including:
- A Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
- Commercial financing that helped her maintain ownership and strengthen her position as the property owner
- A commercial construction loan supporting improvements for Mi Rincon, her Puerto Rican restaurant tenant
For Diana, the financing represented much more than a loan. It helped protect a property she had owned since 2019, preserve the business ecosystem she had worked hard to create and continue investing in the future of the building and the Florence community.
Restoring a Building with a Story
Another important part of Diana’s journey has been completing the renovations needed to bring her vision for the property to life. Built in 1897, the property originally served as the C.W. Myers General Store and has been part of Florence’s history for more than a century.
Diana and her son, an apprentice plumber, have spent countless hours completing hands-on projects throughout the property. Together, they have worked to preserve the building’s historic character while preparing it for the businesses and guests who now call it home.
Pictured above: Diana Niceley and her son, Jaxson.
The renovation process has required patience and persistence. Inspections have not always gone as planned, leading to setbacks, delays and unexpected hurdles.
“When Ryan and Peter came to my building to take a tour, I was so excited to share my experiences as there is never a dull moment with sewer backups, busted water lines and broken AC units!”
– Diana Niceley
Throughout the renovation, Diana often found encouragement in an unexpected place: purple petunias growing around the building. Whether emerging from the dirt, pushing through concrete or appearing in the unlikeliest spots, they became a reminder that beauty and resilience can thrive despite difficult circumstances.
Pictured Above: A framed collage of Diana's "Power Petunias," displayed in her salon.
Grounded by her faith and determined mindset, Diana would tell herself and others during challenging moments, “You just need to go find your purple power petunia. She’s somewhere around here.” The phrase became more than a saying. It inspired the purple featured in the Doubletake Salon & Beauty Store logo, serving as a daily reminder of perseverance, faith and finding strength when the path forward isn't always clear.
The salon's name also carries a special family connection. Diana's identical twin sister, who is also a hairstylist and works in the salon alongside her, inspired the name Doubletake, a nod to their shared passion for hairstyling, close relationship and uncanny resemblance.
Pictured above: Diana Niceley and her identical twin sister, Debra.
Just like the petunias, Diana continued to push through setbacks, treating each challenge as another step toward restoring the building and creating something meaningful for the Florence community. Whether navigating renovation hurdles or doing the hard work required to qualify for financing, she remained committed to keeping both her building and her dream alive.
The Heritage Bank Difference
This is the kind of work Heritage Bank is proud to do: walking alongside local business owners, listening to their goals and helping them understand what may be needed to move forward.
Sometimes that means finding the right loan. Other times, it means helping a business owner take the necessary steps to become better positioned for financing in the future.
“I am forever grateful that Heritage Bank was not only able to help me and my three children stay in our home of 21 years but also help me maintain the ownership of my businesses and building. I now can help provide support to my eldest children when taking their first steps towards their future careers.”
– Diana Niceley
Why Relationships Matter in Business Banking
For entrepreneurs and small business owners, the path to growth can feel overwhelming. Credit history, debt structure, property needs, expansion plans and timing can all play a role in whether financing is possible.
But business owners do not have to navigate those decisions alone.
A local banking relationship can help turn questions into a plan and a plan into progress. Diana’s experience is a reminder that community banking is built on relationships, local understanding and a willingness to look beyond the application to understand the person behind it.
“Despite all the obstacles and challenges Heritage Bank knew I was up against; they provided me the support and encouragement to believe it could be done. I’m not going to lie, they did make me feel like somewhat of a rockstar at times when we would get on the other side of those obstacles!”
– Diana Niceley
Referred by Someone Who Understood the Value of Community Banking
Diana was not a Heritage Bank customer before this relationship began, but she had heard Heritage Bank might be able to help small businesses in ways larger institutions may not.
Interestingly, Diana's journey to Heritage Bank began with a referral from an employee at a larger financial institution.
While larger banks often serve businesses with more standardized lending needs, this individual recognized that Diana's situation required a more personalized approach. They understood that her story, business goals and financial circumstances called for a banker who could take the time to look beyond the surface and evaluate the full opportunity.
That recommendation led Diana to Heritage Bank, where she found a team willing to listen, ask questions and understand the vision she had for her business and property. Rather than focusing solely on a credit score or checking a box on an application, Heritage Bank worked to understand where she wanted to go and what steps could help her get there.
It's a reminder that sometimes the greatest value of community banking is the ability to see potential where others may only see obstacles. For many business owners, having a local banker who understands their story can make all the difference in turning long-term goals into achievable next steps.
"Community banking is about seeing potential in people and businesses. When we take the time to understand someone's story, we can often help them accomplish goals they may not have thought were possible."
– Ryan Bihl, Commercial Loan Officer
Helping Businesses Take the Next Step
At Heritage Bank, we're proud to play a role in stories like Diana's. Behind every successful business is someone who refuses to give up, even when the path isn't easy. It's that determination, combined with local support and opportunity, that helps businesses grow and communities flourish.
If you're planning your next move, whether that's purchasing property, expanding operations or preparing for future growth, Heritage Bank is ready to help you explore what's possible.