-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CiBH7SbI1O11TTaBO1kePXYRpTtMm+axwz+nejD4KHDInMo/YteF88GeMbkswpGX
 63VPJ17MieRFr88acGvr2g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950116-03-002734.txt : 20030515
<SEC-HEADER>0000950116-03-002734.hdr.sgml : 20030515
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030515174543
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950116-03-002734
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030514
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030515

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FINE LAWRENCE H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001197583

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23157
		FILM NUMBER:		03706612

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O A.C. MOORE ARTS & CRAFTS, INC.
		STREET 2:		500 UNIVERSITY COURT
		CITY:			BLACKWOOD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08012

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			A C MOORE ARTS & CRAFTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001042809
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-HOBBY, TOY & GAME SHOPS [5945]
		IRS NUMBER:				223527763
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 UNIVERSITY COURT
		CITY:			BLACKWOOD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08012
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6092286700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 UNIVERSITY COURT
		CITY:			BLACKWOOD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08012
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>AC MOORE - FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-14</periodOfReport>

<issuer>        <issuerCik>0001042809</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>A C MOORE ARTS &amp; CRAFTS INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>ACMR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197583</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FINE LAWRENCE H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>

        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>


    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>

        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-14</value>

        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>

        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>20000</value>

            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>5.45</value>

            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>

            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>23400</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>

            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>

        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>5.45</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-14</value>

        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>

        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>20000</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>

            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2002-05-10</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2011-05-10</value>

        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>

            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>20000</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>80000</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>

            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value></value>

            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On June 25, 2002, ACMR's Board of Directors approved a two-for-one stock split to shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 15, 2002 (the "Stock Split"). This resulted in Mr. Fine acquiring 1,700 additional shares of ACMR common stock (not including shares under ACMR's 401(k) Plan or in his child's custodial account).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person also beneficially owns indirectly: (1) 1,162 shares of ACMR common stock under the ACMR 401(k) Plan (based on a plan statement dated 4/30/03) and (2) 600 shares in his child's custodial account.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This option was previously reported as covering 50,000 shares at an exercise price of $10.90, but was adjusted as a result of the Stock Split into an option to purchase 100,000 shares at an exercise price of $5.45 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This option vests in three equal annual installments beginning May 10, 2002.The filing of this Statement shall not be construed as an admission (a) that the person filing this Statement is, for the purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended), the beneficial owner of any equity securities covered by this Statement, or (b) that this Statement is legally required to be filed by such person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lawrence H. Fine</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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