Arts and crafts retailer A.C. Moore Inc.’s closure means the loss of several hundred jobs outside of the company’s stores, based on federal WARN notices.
A.C. Moore, based in Berlin, is laying off up to 383 people at its headquarters as a result of the closure, according to the notice filed with the state Department of Labor & Workforce Development. The layoffs will be made in early February, according to the notice.
The notice stated: “A.C. Moore has been sold. The company that bought A.C. Moore is liquidating all assets and unwinding the business. Once that happens, A.C. Moore will be out of business.”
The company’s parent, Moorestown-based Nicole Crafts, announced in November that it was exiting retail operations and closing the chain. Another arts and crafts retailer, the Michaels Cos. Inc., is taking over some locations.
The closure will also affect as many as 82 employees at Sbar’s Inc., the creator of Nicole Crafts. The arts and crafts merchandise company, also based in Moorestown, issued a WARN notice of its own, indicating the workers would also be laid off in early February.
“As a result of A.C. Moore Inc. closing all store operations in February or March 2020, it is anticipated that Sbar’s Inc. will undertake a mass layoff of employees at its Moorestown facility,” the notice stated. “Following the wind down of operations, Sbar’s Inc. anticipates that the Moorestown facility will close. The terminations will be permanent.”
Sbar’s did not immediately return a request for comment from ROI-NJ.
