All stores in the A. C. Moore arts-and-crafts-retail chain are set to close after its New Jersey-based parent company, Nicole Crafts, decided to end its retail operations.
A. C. Moore has one retail store in Mercer County, on Route 33 in Hamilton Square. The company says it will reveal specific plans for closing its retail stores on its website. The chain has already stopped accepting online orders, but says it will ship any orders that have already been placed to customers.
“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,” A. C. Moore chief executive officer Anthony Piperno said in a statement. “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.”
A. C. Moore also announced that The Michaels Companies Inc., which owns the Michaels chain of arts-and-crafts stores, will assume leases for as many as 40 A. C. Moore store locations. In a statement, Michaels CEO Mark Cosby said that those store locations will reopen under the Michaels name in 2020.
“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,” Piperno said. “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.”
A. C. Moore was founded in 1985 in Moorestown. It has 141 retail stores in the eastern United States, with headquarters in Berlin. As recently as yesterday, it was advertising holiday gift ideas on its Facebook page.
Customers with A. C. Moore who have gift cards can check their card balance via email at customerservice@acmoore.com, or call (888) 226-6673.
