If you’ve ever painted a room or refreshed the exterior of your home, chances are you’re familiar with Kelly-Moore Paints. For decades, their familiar logo was a staple at job sites across the western United States, and their customer-first attitude made them a local favorite for both professional painters and weekend warriors alike (BTW- don’t confuse them with Benjamin Moore – very different companies). Last year after nearly 80 years in business, Kelly-Moore Paints closed its doors for good on January 2024. It was a sad American institution that was brought down by the weight of history.
A Storied History Spanning Generations
The story of Kelly-Moore started, like so many classic American businesses, with two ambitious men and a big idea. In 1946, William Kelly and William Moore—former Glidden employees—launched their own paint company from San Carlos, California. Within a few short years, Kelly-Moore had already carved out a loyal following by focusing on high-quality products and great customer service. Moore eventually bought out Kelly in 1952 but kept the original name, recognizing the brand’s growing value.
As the decades rolled on, Kelly-Moore struck the perfect balance of catering to both professionals and DIYers. They weren’t a faceless giant or a corner mom-and-pop—they were “big enough to rely on, yet with a relationship culture of care,” as one company statement put it. Kelly-Moore expanded through acquisitions, adding manufacturing facilities in Texas, Arizona, and Washington, plus dozens of stores across the West and Southwest. They even launched an employee stock ownership program in 1998, showing an early and genuine commitment to their people. Their friendly counter staff became synonymous with painting projects all over California, Texas, Nevada, and more. In their prime, the company boasted more than 150 stores and thousands of employees, generating hundreds of millions in annual sales.
A Shadow from the Past
But underneath that success, trouble was brewing. Like so many manufacturers in the mid-20th century, Kelly-Moore found itself entangled in one of the greatest public health crises of the era: asbestos. When Kelly-Moore purchased Paco Textures Corporation in the 1960s, it also acquired a line of wall and ceiling textures that, like many building products of the era, contained asbestos for added durability. By 1978, health authorities had sounded the alarm, and Kelly-Moore—like most of the industry—phased asbestos out of its products. But the damage was done. Lawsuits began as early as 1977, and the avalanche would only grow with time. Tragically, many painters and construction workers exposed to these products later developed serious diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis, sometimes decades after the exposure.
The Cost Was Too Great
As years turned into decades, Kelly-Moore’s legacy was haunted by legal costs and financial obligations. Over 48,000 lawsuits were filed against the company, with settlements and verdicts eventually totaling a staggering $600 million—and more cases were pouring in, with projected future legal liabilities estimated at $170 million.
Even a new era of ownership couldn’t right the ship. In October 2022, the Flacks Group, a Miami-based investment firm, acquired Kelly-Moore, hoping to stabilize the business. Despite restructuring and efforts to move headquarters and streamline operations, the burden from asbestos litigation was simply too heavy. Where other big brands weathered similar storms by reorganizing, selling off assets, or seeking bankruptcy protection, Kelly-Moore relied on out-of-court settlements and, reportedly, tried every avenue possible. “The company and its advisors conducted an exhaustive process that included pursuing opportunities for new capital investment, a potential sale, merger, or reorganization,” the company said in its closing announcement, but the shadow of litigation chased away any investors or buyers.
Finally, on January 13, 2024, with no options left, Kelly-Moore announced that it would immediately cease operations, closing all 157 stores and laying off about 700 employees. Orders would only be filled “to the extent possible” from their dwindling inventory.
The Human Toll
I’ll be honest—when I first heard Kelly-Moore was gone, my thoughts immediately went out to the people behind the counter who had nothing to do with this. This was an acquisition that turned out to be horrible in the 1960s, which was impacting a new generation of employees. Now, they—and more than 1,000 others—lost not just their jobs, but their community, their pride, and their connection to generations of customers.
It’s not just employees who were left out in the cold. Painters, contractors, and homeowners across California, Texas, Nevada, and Oklahoma suddenly faced the loss of their trusted supplier. For many professionals, Kelly-Moore was more than just a place to buy paint—it was an essential partner for their businesses. Their paints, color matching, and advice couldn’t always be swapped for a big-box experience. Social channels are filled with stories of customers scrambling to find alternatives, lamenting that “no one can match colors like Kelly-Moore did.” (We have some other articles on that — it is possible with some work).
An End—and a Lesson
The demise of Kelly-Moore isn’t just a business tragedy; it’s a stark warning about how decisions made decades ago can ripple forward. In a world where nothing is truly guaranteed, even beloved brands can disappear overnight due to factors outside of anyone’s current control.
It also serves as a practical reminder of another truth: your paint color records matter. Matching is now the only option for the millions of homes painted with Kelly-Moore colors.
Don’t Lose Your Colors: The Role of a Digital Paint Record
As a longtime DIYer, I’ve learned firsthand how paint companies, products, and even entire color lines can vanish. If you’ve ever tried to patch a wall or touch up trim without knowing the exact color or formula, you know how frustrating and costly it can be. With the end of Kelly-Moore, thousands of homeowners and contractors are now wishing they had a safe, reliable, digital way to save their paint colors, formulas, and project details.
That’s where services like DWELLING Monster come in. With Dwellingmonster, you can create a secure, organized digital record of every paint color and brand you’ve used—down to the room and wall. No more faded labels, no more guesswork. If your favorite brand disappears or a store closes, there is hope if you have the information on hand, even years down the road.
So if you want to avoid the heartbreak of losing your perfect shade forever, take five minutes to log your paint info with DWELLING Monster.
Kelly-Moore may be gone, but the color of your life doesn’t have to be lost with it.
