Get the weekly rundown Sign up to receive our weekly BizBuzz newsletter Email* Submit

New London — Customers wandering the aisles of the A.C. Moore in New London mid-day Wednesday for fabrics, activity kits and more were surprised and saddened upon hearing the news that the craft chain will be closing all 145 stores.

"I was definitely disappointed to hear, because we get a lot of our craft stuff here," said East Lyme resident Kristen Chantrell, who was at the store with her two kids, Ethan and Lilah.

"They have a lot of stuff that I want to use," said Ethan, 9. He was looking for a wooden treasure chest as part of a scavenger hunt planned with his cousins on Thanksgiving.

Kristen Chantrell has found the store useful for things her kids do with stickers and for class projects, and before she and her husband had kids, they went to A.C. Moore to get a wooden toy box they painted themselves.

She thinks that some people go to Michaels to get more of the name-brand items — "Martha Stewart type stuff" — but has found unique products at A.C. Moore, "things you wouldn't know would exist."

Nicole Crafts, the parent company of A.C. Moore, announced on Tuesday that it was closing all stores. The company said Michaels will take over leases for up to 40 stores.

A.C. Moore CEO 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."

New London store manager Missy Hyde, who said she has worked at A.C. Moore for 20 years, said the store must sell all its products, so she doesn't know the closing date. She also didn't know if the store would be turned into a Michaels.

Spokespeople for A.C. Moore and Michaels didn't respond to emails Wednesday inquiring about the status of the New London location. The A.C. Moore store, on North Frontage Road, is only 2.2 miles from the Michaels store at Waterford Commons.

On Wednesday, silk-flower designer Cindy Stocker was working on her last custom arrangement, an ice-blue winter wreath. She was saddened to hear from her manager on Tuesday of the closing of the store, one that provides a different environment for employees than other retail stores might.

"We're very passionate," said Stocker, who has been at the store for a year. "This is the best job I've ever had, because I get to do nothing but create all day long and help customers and make them happy."

Stocker does a lot of designs for both cemeteries and weddings, and while she's not positive what's next for her, she is thinking about starting her own business.

Westerly resident Tracy Harrington heard about the closing on Tuesday and came Wednesday to see if she could scoop up any bargains. Harrington likes coming to the store for fabrics, yarns and natural fibers, and she said she finds things at A.C. Moore she couldn't find at Michaels or Joann.

Rebecca Cephas hadn't yet heard about the closure when she was walking around A.C. Moore on Wednesday with her kids, ages 9 and 4.

She likes coming to the store for arts and crafts for the kids: Among the items in her cart were acrylic colors, a Playful Dolphins LED Fountain, the "What U Talkin Bout?" game and a gingerbread house kit.

She also had mini flower pots, which she was going to pair with glass globes and decorate to look like gumball machines.

A.C. Moore's other Connecticut stores are in Plainville, Orange and Manchester. The company is no longer accepting new orders.

e.moser@theday.com