Leah Costa moved her business one block along Sixth Street a couple of months ago.</p><p>It's a move that has given her more room for merchandise and has kept her insulated from the economic pitfalls many businesses are facing in the current recession.</p><p>"It's going really good," Costa said. "Not to sound braggy, but business has been up 28-32 percent since we moved."</p><p>Costa owns Fleur de Lis, a gift shop that is now located on the 1000 block of Sixth Street, an intersection across from Los Ba&#241;os Drug Co. The shop has plenty of items to choose from. There are candles, soaps, lotions, statuettes, a myriad of knickknacks, purses, table linen, gourmet food items, and silver-ware among many other items.</p><p>The clientele is female, young and old. Trade shows and magazines help Costa keep up with the trendy items her customers will be looking for her to carry in the shop. French-country style seems to be in at the moment, she said.</p><p>Costa is usually on target with what lines she chooses to have in the store.</p><p>"I think I've had really good discretion and discernment. I've never had something come in that didn't sell," she said. </p><p>Fleur de Lis originally opened in Los Ba&#241;os in 2006. Costa figured she could combine two of her favorite pasttimes.</p><p>"I've always loved shopping and I've always loved decorating and so I figured why not make it a business," she said. </p><p>The shop is closed on Mondays, allowing Costa to do a little home decorating for clients who've requested it.</p><p>Tuesday through Satuday, however, Costa is at the shop with her daughter, 2-year-old Ava. The toddler has been going to work with her mother since she was one week old.</p><p>Costa said one day, many years from now, she hopes to give the store to her daughter to operate. Until that time though Costa believes, even as more businesses come into the city, Fleur de Lis can survive by remaining unique.</p><p>She said free gift wrapping and the lack of availability at the big-box stores of some of the items she carries is keeping her in business.</p><p>Overall Costa has a positive outlook on the future of Los Ba&#241;os' downtown. She said she believes it's going in the right direction, cooperation among owners.</p><p>"I think we have a really good mix of businesses," she said. "I feel like we all get along well. People will come in and say, 'Oh, do you have that line?' I'll say I don't and tell them try that store, or try that store, and the other businesses will do the same for me."</p><p><i>Enterprise staff writer Corey Pride can be reached at 388-6563 or cpride@losbanosenterprise.com</i>