If you’ve ever done a home renovation or just painted a bedroom, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the Kelly-Moore name. For almost 80 years, Kelly-Moore Paints was a staple for professional painters, contractors, and do-it-yourselfers all over the West and Southwest. So when news broke in early 2024 that Kelly-Moore was shutting down all its stores, a lot of people were honestly surprised.
In this story, we’ll look into what led to this big shutdown, what happened to the stores and workers, what comes next, and what this means for customers in 2026. Whether you’re just curious or you’re someone who has relied on Kelly-Moore, here’s what you need to know—no drama or big headlines, just the real story.
The Rise and Long Life of Kelly-Moore Paints
Let’s rewind a bit. Kelly-Moore Paints started in the 1940s in California and built itself into a trusted paint brand that was known for its quality, reliability, and service. Contractors often recommended Kelly-Moore for its products, while homeowners liked the chain for its approachable stores and helpful staff.
By the 2000s, Kelly-Moore had over 150 stores across several states, selling everything from professional-grade paint to sealants, primers, and specialty coatings. Their business model was a mix between supplying big construction jobs and helping people repaint their kitchens or living rooms.
Over its decades in business, Kelly-Moore became a real fixture in the American paint industry, especially on the West Coast. That’s why its closure in early 2024 caused such a shock.
Big Problems: Legal and Financial Issues Pile Up
At the core of Kelly-Moore’s decision to close was a huge pile of legal and financial troubles that built up over years. While many companies face lawsuits and business risks, Kelly-Moore’s situation was unique and, frankly, serious.
A lot of these problems traced back to asbestos. Decades ago, in the 20th century, some Kelly-Moore paint products (like many brands at the time) contained asbestos. That seemed normal back then, but as the dangers of asbestos became clear, lawsuits started piling up. Over time, courts held companies like Kelly-Moore financially responsible for asbestos exposure that happened long ago—even if the products were discontinued years earlier.
The numbers involved were no joke. The company was hit with thousands of claims. The legal costs alone were enough to keep any business owner up at night. Legal experts say that once asbestos cases stack up, it can be almost impossible to get ahead, because each case can lead to massive payouts and endless lawyer fees.
On top of that, Kelly-Moore struggled with mounting debt, rising business costs, and an industry that’s gotten more competitive. They just didn’t have enough cash or credit to keep fighting these old battles and keep the lights on in the stores.
How the Shutdown Unfolded for Staff and Customers
When a company says it’s “ceasing operations,” it sounds clinical. But for the actual people working at Kelly-Moore, it hit home in January 2024. That’s when the company officially announced all its stores would close, effective almost immediately.
About 700 employees lost their jobs, many with little warning. Those workers included not just the folks in the paint aisles but also the people running distribution centers, warehouses, sales offices, and management. For smaller towns and trade customers who relied on the local Kelly-Moore, this was a big loss.
At the same time, the company said it would keep minimal operations running—basically just enough to ship out any orders already in the system. This was about fulfilling commitments to loyal customers or contractors who’d ordered paint before the announcement. Once those orders went out, that was it.
People started showing up at their local stores, only to find closed doors and empty shelves. Other customers called the 800 number, but no one answered. It happened fast and, for many, felt like losing a trusted neighbor overnight.
So, Are Kelly-Moore Stores Still Open?
That’s a fair question, and it gets a little confusing. Shortly after Kelly-Moore’s shutdown, some of its former stores did reopen. But these weren’t the same company, and they weren’t run by Kelly-Moore.
H-I-S Paint, an independent paint maker based in Oklahoma, quickly stepped in and bought a handful of the closed locations in Oklahoma and Texas. H-I-S Paint rebranded these stores and reopened them under its own name. It made sense—these were good locations, and the communities already knew where they were.
If you drive by a former Kelly-Moore store and see the lights on, it doesn’t mean Kelly-Moore is back. Under the surface, all the legal and financial stuff still belongs to the old company, not to H-I-S Paint or whoever else took over that spot.
So, to be totally clear, Kelly-Moore the company is not operating in any form, and the old stores that are open now have nothing to do with the original owner. It’s new inventory, new branding, and a different business altogether.
What About Products—Can You Still Buy Kelly-Moore Paint?
For folks hoping to find Kelly-Moore paint cans at their local shop or online, it’s mostly bad news. As of 2026, Kelly-Moore isn’t making new paint, and all official stores are permanently closed. The brand itself doesn’t exist as a real company anymore. If you do spot Kelly-Moore paint on a shelf, it’s leftover stock, not something fresh off the line.
There’s always a chance you’ll see some old products lingering at independent hardware stores or in overstock sales. Some contractors stocked up on popular colors before the closure just to finish projects or meet customer demand. But once those supplies run out, that’s the end of that supply.
People hoping to track down specific Kelly-Moore paint formulas or warranties are out of luck now. There’s no customer service team or support line to answer questions anymore. Contractors who relied on Kelly-Moore are now turning to other brands, repainting projects using similar colors or products from competitors like Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, or Behr.
The Bigger Picture: What’s Going on in the Paint Business?
Kelly-Moore’s closure isn’t just about one company. It’s a sign of how heavy old legal issues can weigh on even trusted brands. Many long-running U.S. companies are still dealing with asbestos cases or similar “legacy” risks that date back decades. It’s not something new brands usually watch out for, but it’s a huge deal for older ones.
We’re also seeing steady consolidation in the paint world. Big players, like Sherwin-Williams and PPG, have more muscle and can better weather bumps in the road. Smaller regional players or family-run brands can struggle if something big goes wrong. In Kelly-Moore’s case, no amount of customer loyalty or brand reputation could get them out of this legal and financial tangle.
Still, people will always need paint, and stores will open or change hands to meet demand. In places where Kelly-Moore vanished, new owners like H-I-S Paint are filling in the gaps. You can look up similar stories at Click Business Mag for how other small regional brands have navigated changes or closures before.
What Should Customers Do Now?
If you have leftover Kelly-Moore paint at home, it’s safe to use for touch-ups and small projects. Just don’t expect any guarantees if something goes wrong or if you want to order more in the same shade. For anyone looking to match a color, many paint stores offer color-matching technology and can usually help you get something very close.
Contractors with ongoing jobs had to act fast when the news hit. Most switched their orders to other brands and explained to clients what happened. For large or ongoing jobs, most painting pros already deal with color and product changes from time to time, so this wasn’t a brand-new problem, but it did interrupt schedules in early 2024.
If you have questions about paint warranties, store credit, or refunds, it’s a dead end. With the company gone, those policies vanished too.
Is There Any Version of Kelly-Moore Left in 2026?
Right now in 2026, Kelly-Moore as a company is gone for good. No official stores, no customer support, no new paint. The brand still has some loyal fans, and those cans of leftover paint might even be something people hang onto as a quirky bit of nostalgia.
New store owners in the old locations are doing their thing, usually under new names and with different product lines. If you stumble on Kelly-Moore products out there, it’s just old inventory moving through its last sales cycle. The company’s website and most digital presence disappeared quickly after the closures.
Wrapping Up: Lessons From Kelly-Moore’s Shutdown
The Kelly-Moore Paints story shows how even old, trusted companies aren’t totally safe from stuff that happened decades ago. Legal trouble, especially around things like asbestos, can sneak up years later and weigh down a company’s finances until there’s no way out.
For paint customers, it’s a good lesson in why some old brands just vanish—sometimes overnight. If you relied on Kelly-Moore, switching to new products or colors is the new normal.
At the end of the day, the paint business goes on, just with fewer familiar names on the shelves. If you’re watching the industry or just hoping your favorite brands stick around, keep an eye on how they handle the past as much as the future. That’s where the real story often unfolds, quietly, behind the scenes.
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