NEWS RELEASE			Exhibit 99.1


CONTACT:
Bob Aronson
Director of Investor Relations
800-579-2302
(investorrelations@stagestoresinc.com)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STAGE STORES ANNOUNCES
BANKRUPTCY COURT
CONFIRMATION OF THE
COMPANY'S THIRD AMENDED PLAN
OF REORGANIZATION, AS MODIFIED

HOUSTON, TX, August 9, 2001- - Stage Stores, Inc.
(OTCBB: SGEEQ) announced today that, at its
Confirmation Hearing held on August 8, 2001 (the
"Confirmation Date"), the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the
Southern District of Texas, Houston Division confirmed the
Company's Third Amended Plan of Reorganization, as
Modified (the "Plan").  A complete copy of the Plan will be
filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as an Exhibit to a Form 8-K on or before
August 23, 2001.

The Plan sets forth the treatment for pre-petition
creditors and existing holders of the Company's Common
Stock and Class B Common Stock.  The Plan generally
provides for the issuance of a new class of common stock in
a reorganized company to those pre-petition creditors
entitled to receive such distribution under the Plan.  The Plan
does not provide for any distribution to the holders of the
Company's Common Stock or to the holders of the
Company's Class B Common Stock and, further, the Plan
calls for the cancellation of the currently outstanding
Common Stock and Class B Common Stock upon the Plan
Effective Date.

The Effective Date of the Plan will be the date on
which all of the conditions precedent to the Effective Date,
as described in the Plan, will have been met by the Company
or waived pursuant to the Plan.  While there can be no
assurances, the Company anticipates that the Effective Date
will occur within thirty days of the Confirmation Date.
Stage Stores, Inc. brings nationally recognized brand
name apparel, accessories, cosmetics and footwear for the
entire family to small towns and communities throughout the
south central United States.  The Company currently
operates stores under the Stage, Bealls and Palais Royal
names.

Any statements in this 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.