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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 G6DNqxWyaDbELW1kRIdN2YCDbAKE/vBZsvfWh+q8o2Hix9m4fSFgMhB5pTyW1esk
 y3+U7b5o5ImoQFJdt7AIgg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950116-04-002605.txt : 20040827
<SEC-HEADER>0000950116-04-002605.hdr.sgml : 20040827
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040827120300
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950116-04-002605
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040826
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040827
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040827

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DRAKE RICHARD J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001197586

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23157
		FILM NUMBER:		041001311

	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>p400670_ex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197586</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DRAKE RICHARD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O A.C. MOORE ARTS &amp; CRAFTS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>500 UNIVERSITY COURT</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BLACKWOOD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08012</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.95</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-08-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option vests in three equal annual installments beginning August 26, 2005. 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>2004-08-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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