A.C. Moore Arts and Crafts will be closing its retail stores according to an announcement made by parent company Nicole Crafts today.
Anthony Piperno, Chief Executive Officer of A.C. Moore said, “For over 30 years, our stores have been servicing the creative community with a vast selection of art and craft materials, with one common focus, the customer. Unfortunately, given the headwinds facing many retailers in today’s environment, it made it very difficult for us to operate and compete on a national level. During this process, we will continue to provide great customer experience, while still delivering quality and value on your favorite products. Plans for closing specific A.C. Moore locations will be shared in the upcoming weeks on our website. While we will stop accepting further online orders as of today, we will ship any previously placed orders in the ordinary course.”
A.C. Moore currently has approximately 135 locations primarily in the Eastern US. As part of the transaction, The Michaels Companies Inc., will assume leases for up to 40 store locations and a lease on an east coast distribution facility plus purchase intellectual property which will allow the Company to enhance its position as the largest arts and crafts retailer in North America. Michaels CEO, Mark Cosby, noted, “This transaction enables us to further expand our presence in strategic markets and serve even more customers both online and in store. We are looking forward to re-opening these stores under the Michaels name in 2020 and welcoming new team members.”
Piperno added, “While it was a difficult decision for us, this transaction will result in a group of stores reopening under the Michaels banner subject to negotiations with landlords— allowing teams to continue serving the brand’s loyal customers and employ our valued team members in those locations. We believe the transaction was the best option for our employees, customers, vendors, landlords, and other key stakeholders and thank them for their many years of support.”
We’ve reached out to Jonathan Peacock, head of the A.C. Moore Marketplace, to ask about the future of that piece of the business and will post an update if we hear back. It’s also not clear what will happen to Blitsy, the online retailer of arts and crafts supplies that A.C. Moore acquired in 2017.
I’m so sad to see them close. Always a better selection than Michaels.
I love a.c. Moore. Please don’t close.
What will happen to nicole yarns? Will they be available through Michael’s.
Loved all your stores and products. So sorry to see you go..
Will the Nicole brand yarn be available in Michael stores – LOVE this yarn – it is so soft & reasonably priced – so sad to see you close – never have cared for Michaels.
Loved the little fairies! I must find them. Is the inventory being offered anywhere else?
My favorite store. I so wish you hadn’t closed.
Are the stitch studio by Nicole yarns being manufactured……I have been knitting for 60 years and have never found such wonderful yarn as this.
Tina Williams and ac more company yes i agree with you 100 % I love crochet I make baby blankets doilies baby sweater and lot of things and i always find in their stores colors I never found any where else . I felt very sad too to the point i will drive to the one near where I live and almost cry.
WOW, I am shocked. I went to AC Moore before Michaels came into the area. I guess they just couldn’t compete with the much larger store.
I have almost $800 in custom framing due after 12/5. Will I still be getting it?
I will miss A C MOORE as it was the ultimate craft store. You could always find everything for crafts. Micheals has nothing. I do not shop online. I need to see it besides who wants to wait to receive craft supplies that may or may not be correct.
Yes Hilda i loved AC more their prices where the best not only for my crochet yarns also wilton cake decorating items still have lots of yarn I bought in theirs stores and projects i want to work on and again I will say even though other stores carry red heart and other brands they had i always found other beautiful colors in AC more. nancy Stroudsburg PA.
So very sad to see this happening. AC Moore has been our supplier for inexpensive scrapbooks which enable the Scraps and Bits Wish Team to donate completed scrapbooks to every Make-a-wish kid in our area. We purchase, create and donate 25-35 scrapbooks a month to these kids. We pay, out of pocket, for the albums and for us not to be able to get them at their sale price anymore will be a game changer for the future of our team. I am beyond sad that this is happening as we have had our team for over 2 years. That equates to over 500 children who have had their wish granted and have a special place to keep their memories. But, sadly, that may have to come to an end. 😥
Why don’t you contact them about it, they might be able to give you a good deal on stock they have to clear.
It saddens my heart to hear A C Moore is closing. We’re losing so many of our arts and craft stores that pretty soon there will be none.
The A. C. Moore store near me has NEVER had a good selection of any products I wanted to purchase. Neither has Michaels either. They have changed drastically in the products they carry. I get a better selection and price online so these store closings is not a game changer for me.
I’m really going to hate to see AC Moore go! Their yarn selection is far better than Michael’s and they are much more orderly and less crowded than Michael’s. I much prefer their craft selections over both Michael’s and JoAnn’s and shop mostly for my yarn at AC Moore and JoAnn;s. This is really going to put a hurt on my yarn supplies. I buy tons of yarn for my projects. They have the best selection of Caron One Pounds, and Caron Simply Soft over all the others in my home area. And where I am working in North Atlanta area (not home() I lament the lack of an AC Moore ALL the time, as do those of my friends who have had the opportunity to visit one!
I am so upset that they are closing . I will never step foot in Michael’s.
I completely agree! There are two Michael’s stores in my area, and both are disorderly, messy, and more expensive than AC Moore or Joann. I hope I can buy the Nicole brand yarn elsewhere.
i go to Michaels but beardly find anything of what I am looking for, their yarn in always a lot more than other stores i loved a book they had one time is happened to me many times i liked that book It was 14.99 baby blanket and after i got to the register they told me it was not part of the 20% off but it did not specify that any where. so i will not say never because my daughter likes painting, but I hardly go there I will rather drive 45 minutes to hobby lobby.
i’m so sorry to see a c moore go belly-up. i love the store and its items. used their supplies this year for my 80th birthday party — my invitations were so beautiful (nicole’s crafts –sparkly letters) – that most invitees thought my invitations were wedding announcements! I will always love a c moore. – eileen massi – northeast philly.
Anyone know if there is a way to get Nicole Studio brand yarn anywhere??
I read online nicole yarn was owned by Ac Moore. I don’t think that it’s coming back via Michael’s. Which totally sucks. I have so much Nicole yarn and I always need more of 1 item. I do hope that they do something. Otherwise, we will all have some interesting projects in future. 😫
What do I do with my $90.00 in AC MOORE GIFT CARDS????? I just returned from traveling & discovered AC Moore store closed in Lynchburg Va
Unfortunately, when a company goes bankrupt, gift card holders are unsecured creditors.
My mom & I are sad to see the closing of our AC Moore at The Avenue in White Marsh, Maryland. We always got our Nicole yarns there & dont know if it is carried anywhere else. We loved the huge variety of products at the store
They had everything! We really miss the store.
Where can I purchase Stituch Studio Chateau yarn carried by A.C. Moore. There must be some in warehouses. I must state that I am very, very disappointed in the stores closing, not only as employee which I was so proud of, but as a customer of all their crafts. This is so sad, there is no other Craft store that can compare to A.C. Moore’s prices, investory and staff. The staff was always so helpful and it was a joy to step foot in the store.
Sadly,
I, too, am sad that ACMoore closed. I cannot find the small mini decorative frames by stitch studio by nicole anywhere!!!!! Does anybody know where to find the round ones and the oval ones? I live in the Buffalo, NY area and have tried all over looking for them. We have tried Amazon, with no success. Somebody has to have them!!!
Michael’s cannot not and will never be able to compare to high and varied quality of Nicole craft products and other items sold under the AC Moore name…..Michael’s has only emerged because they have no real competition in this field…..In fairness to the crafters of the world AC flagship stores must once again emerge and take their rightful place in the crafting industry once again. Give the world a break in these very hard trying times and bring back a truly first class crafting store.
ACMOORE was the best craft store of all Michael’s does not have and will never have everything that you offered all of us crafter’s miss my favorite store every day 😢 💔