The A.C. Moore arts and crafts retail chain is closing all its stores, owner Nicole Crafts announced Tuesday.
A.C. Moore has one store in Jacksonville at 9515 Crosshill Blvd., Suite 109, in Oakleaf Town Center.
Family-owned and headquartered in Berlin, New Jersey, A.C. Moore says it has more than 145 stores and 5,000 employees.
“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 CEO Anthony Piperno said in a news release.
The company said The Michaels Companies Inc. will assume leases for up to 40 stores, along with an East Coast distribution facility. Michaels did not announce which stores it will keep open.
“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 reopening these stores under the Michaels name in 2020 and welcoming new team members,” said Michaels CEO Mark Cosby.
Piperno said plans for closing specific A.C. Moore locations will be announced on its website. The company stopped online orders Tuesday, but said it will ship any previously placed orders.
“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,” he said.
Michaels says it has more than 1,260 stores in the U.S. and Canada. It has six stores in the Jacksonville area.