Yasmine Acosta discusses her new gift store at the April 5 Kiwanis meeting. Photo by Brooke Davis

By BROOKE DAVIS
Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos

New Kiwanis member Yasmin Acosta spoke to the Kiwanis Club April 5 about her new businesses, Yas’  Elevated Jewelry and Gifts. 

She founded the gift store at 107 Central Park Square in Los Alamos and continues to operate UPEX, the business next door.

Acosta is a Los Alamos native. She grew up, went to school, and is raising her son here. For sometime, Acosta had worked at Bennett’s Fine Jewelry. Many people were shocked and saddened when the Bennetts closed their store and are now delighted that Acosta has established a gift store in the same location.

Acosta said that she is “really excited” about her elegant new store, which carries a variety of interesting new items as well as many of those that Bennett’s once offered. The store will offer jewelry, special-order items, watches (and watch repairs), framed art photos, Nambe, and services ranging from poster printing to shipping. She plans to feature local artists in the store as well.

She said that the transition went well but is keeping her very busy, as she is continuing to run UPEX as well.

About Kiwanis:

Kiwanis is an international service club founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, and is found in more than 80 nations and geographic areas. Since 1987, the organization also accepts women as members. Membership in Kiwanis and its family of clubs is more than 600,000 members. Each year, Kiwanis clubs raise more than US $100 million and report more than 18.5 million volunteer hours to strengthen communities and serve children.

The Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos meets noon to 1 p.m. each Tuesday in Kelly Hall at Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church, 3900 Trinity Dr. in Los Alamos. The club’s meetings are open to the public.