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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 ONaA10TEg9ChuusJtTeBaA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950116-03-003731.txt : 20030829
<SEC-HEADER>0000950116-03-003731.hdr.sgml : 20030829
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030829132104
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950116-03-003731
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030827
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030829

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KAPLAN WILLIAM
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001056330

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23157
		FILM NUMBER:		03873462

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		302 N WATERS STREET
		CITY:			NEWBURGH
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12550
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9145624922
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>p326851_ex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-08-27</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001042809</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>A C MOORE ARTS &amp; CRAFTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACMR</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001056330</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KAPLAN WILLIAM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>302 N WATERS STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWBURGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>12550</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-08-27</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>558350</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>24.25</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>2093512</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>741650</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>By grantor retained annuity trust</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> On August 27, 2003, the reporting person substituted $13,540,000 in cash and other assets for 558,350 shares of common stock of A.C. Moore Arts &amp; Crafts, Inc. (the &quot;Issuer&quot;) held in The 2003 William Kaplan GRAT (the &quot;2003 GRAT&quot;).</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> The price per share was based on a valuation analysis prepared by an independent third party.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F3"> By virtue of the reporting person's position as investment trustee of the 2003 GRAT, the reporting person has the power to vote and dispose of, and therefore may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of, 741,650 shares of Issuer common stock held in the 2003 GRAT.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>Leslie H. Gordon, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-08-29</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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