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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RRvxoAT6JueXE2ZvtaCTZsHAGA9AYvgWt+RI9r017tA4Kxb7fvqvfRUVJzkejJvk
 WEgIyccww1xZEjzK/GCNMQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-08-012280.txt : 20080513
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-08-012280.hdr.sgml : 20080513
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080513190635
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-08-012280
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080329
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080513
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080513

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			99 CENTS ONLY STORES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001011290
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-VARIETY STORES [5331]
		IRS NUMBER:				952411605
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0329

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4000 EAST UNION PACIFIC AVENUE
		CITY:			CITY OF COMMERCE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90023
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3239808145

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4000 EAST UNION PACIFIC AVENUE
		CITY:			CITY OF COMMERCE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90023

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AU ZONE INVESTMENTS NO 3 LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001168388
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11735
		FILM NUMBER:		08829083

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O 99 CENTS ONLY STORE
		STREET 2:		4000 UNION PACIFIC AVE
		CITY:			CITY OF COMMERCE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90023
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3239808145
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 5
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>1</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001011290</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>99 CENTS ONLY STORES</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NDN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001168388</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AU ZONE INVESTMENTS NO 3 LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O 4000 UNION PACIFIC AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CITY OF COMMERCE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90023</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-10-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>L</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5849</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6865973</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pro rata distribution of shares of Common Stock from the Meadowbrook Equity Fund III, LLC, of which Au Zone Investments #2, L.P. was a non-managing member, in connection with the liquidation of such fund.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person is the general partner of Au Zone Investments #2, L.P., a limited partnership which is the holder of record of the shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeff Gold</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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