18 A.C. Moores in New Jersey to shutter

Eighteen A.C. Moore stores in New Jersey will close as the New Jersey-based arts and crafts chain moves to shutter all 140 of its stores, NJ.com reported. Forty of the 140 outposts will become Michaels, according to the outlet. “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 statement. It wasn’t immediately clear which, if any, of the New Jersey stores will become Michaels stores. [NJ.com]