<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000006885</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STAGE STORES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SSI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001486546</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HUNTER STEVEN L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10201 MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Chief Information Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.26</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-06-02</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-06-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.77</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-03-27</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-03-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On June 2, 2008, the reporting person was granted 5,000 shares of restricted common stock. The shares will vest, on a three-year cliff basis, on June 2, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On June 2, 2008, the reporting person was granted Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) with respect to a total of 15,000 shares of common stock. The grant price for the SARs is $13.26 per share of common stock, which was the closing price of the issuer's common stock on the grant date. The SARs will vest 25% per year on the first four anniversary dates from the date of grant. They will expire on the earlier of (i) sixty days after termination of employment (one year if termination is due to death, disability or retirement), or (ii) seven years from the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On March 27, 2009, the reporting person was granted Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) with respect to a total of 15,000 shares of common stock. The grant price for the SARs is $9.77 per share of common stock, which was the closing price of the issuer's common stock on the grant date. The SARs will vest 25% per year on the first four anniversary dates from the date of grant. They will expire on the earlier of (i) sixty days after termination of employment (one year if termination is due to death, disability or retirement), or (ii) seven years from the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ R.E. Stasyszen, Attorney in Fact for Steven L. Hunter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
