8-K

                            FORM 8-K

        UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C.  20549


                            FORM 8-K
                         CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
                              1934


                         January 6, 2000
        (Date of Report, date of earliest event reported)


                       Stage Stores, Inc.
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


             Commission file number 001-14035



           DELAWARE                         76-0407711
(State or other jurisdiction of          (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)         Identifications No.)

  10201 Main Street, Houston,                 77025
             Texas                          (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive
           offices)


                         (713) 667-5601
      (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                         Not Applicable
     (Former name or address, if changed since last report)


ITEM 5.  Other Events.

     A  press  release  regarding  the  Company  announcing  1999
holiday period sales and certain other matters was issued by  the
Company  on  January 6, 2000 and is attached  hereto  as  Exhibit
99.1.

ITEM 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (a)  Financial statements of business acquired.

       Not applicable.

     (b)  Pro forma financial information.

       Not applicable.

     (c)  Exhibits.

       99.1  Press release dated January 6, 2000 issued by the
       Company.



                           SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange  Act
of  1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                        STAGE STORES, INC.

January 6, 2000                         /s/ James A. Marcum
 (Date)                                 James A. Marcum
                                        Vice Chairman and,
                                        Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

                                                     Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT:
Bob Aronson
Director of Investor Relations
(800) 579-2302


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


      STAGE STORES, INC. REPORTS 1999 HOLIDAY PERIOD SALES
                 ______________________________

HOUSTON,  TX, January 6, 2000 -- Stage Stores, Inc.  (NYSE:  SGE)
today  reported  sales  for the nine-week  holiday  period  ended
January  1, 2000 of $273.3 million as compared to $296.8  million
for  the  same period last year.  The decrease in sales primarily
reflects the net reduction of 27 stores year-to-date as well as a
6.7% decline in comparable store sales during the holiday period.

Commenting  on the holiday period sales results, Carl E.  Tooker,
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We  are
disappointed  with  the sales results for the  nine-week  holiday
period.   We  believe  that  these  results  reflect  an  overall
softness  in the apparel retail sector which was further impacted
by  an  increased  level  of  competitive  promotional  activity.
During the holiday period, we continued to see the trend that has
developed  over  the  past several years in which  a  significant
amount of the holiday period sales occurs during the Thanksgiving
period  and  over the last two weeks of December.  In  fact,  our
comparable  store  sales  were  positive  during  these  periods.
However, during the other weeks of the holiday period, sales were
substantially  below our expectations, which led to  the  overall
decline   for  the  period.   Despite  the  softness   in   sales
experienced  during  the holiday period, we continue  to  believe
that  we have made good progress in transitioning our merchandise
mix to reflect the fashions and the brands that we think have the
greatest appeal to our customer base."

The  Company also announced that it will report its total  fourth
quarter  sales on or about February 3, 2000 and will  report  its
fourth quarter financial results on or about March 9, 2000.

Stage Stores, Inc. brings nationally recognized brand name family
apparel,  accessories,  cosmetics and  footwear  for  the  entire
family  to  small  towns  and communities throughout  the  United
States.   The company currently operates 652 stores in 33 states,
primarily under the Stage, Bealls and Palais Royal trade names.

Any  statements  in  this press release that  may  be  considered
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
that  could  cause  actual results to differ  materially.   These
risks  and uncertainties are discussed in periodic reports  filed
by  the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission  that
the Company urges investors to consider.
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