-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ADcJBYgPgd3eKAX5vdWZVcP7u32MZ4ZGfd18NYO+4idMg6KX4DRYFop0aqXD1P0z
 /4buQvaHSbyldLrk2Scv9w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000006885-03-000032.txt : 20030602
<SEC-HEADER>0000006885-03-000032.hdr.sgml : 20030602
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030602150227
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000006885-03-000032
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030529
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030602

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GILMAN ALAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182211

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14035
		FILM NUMBER:		03727963

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4720 MORRIS LAKE CIRCLE
		CITY:			WEST BLOOMFIELD
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48323
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2487381380

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STAGE STORES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000006885
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-FAMILY CLOTHING STORES [5651]
		IRS NUMBER:				911826900
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10201 MAIN ST
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77025
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7136675601

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10201 MAIN STREET
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77025

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	APPAREL RETAILERS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930908

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TEXTILE DISTRIBUTORS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19690521
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-29</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182211</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GILMAN ALAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>22.18</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-29</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>2500</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2005-05-29</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-05-29</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>2500</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>22500</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Deferred Stock Units</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>22.18</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-29</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1036</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-05-29</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2003-05-29</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>1036</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1036</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The term of this stock option is ten (10) years from the date of the grant of the stock option (the &quot;Option Term&quot;).  The stock option may not be exercised after the expiration of its Option Term (May 29, 2013).  The stock option shall vest and become exercisable by Director according to the following: (1) 2 years from the date of grant (May 29, 2005), 50% of option shares may be exercised and (2) 4 years from the date of grant (May 29, 2007), 100% of the option shares may be exercised.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects the Director's election to receive $23,000 of his Total Annual Retainer Fees for the 2003-2004 Term Year in exchange for 1,036 of the Company's Deferred Stock Units under the Company's 2003 Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Plan.  One-twelfth (1/12) of the number of Deferred Stock Units will be credited by the Company to the Director's ledger account (&quot;Account&quot;) on the first day of each month during the Term Year. Upon termination of service with the Company or a hardship, the Director may elect either (i) a single lump sum cash distribution of his Deferred Stock Unit Account, or (ii) a single distribution of his Deferred Stock Unit Account in the form of the Company's restricted common stock.  The number of shares of common stock to be issued will be equal to the number of Deferred Stock Units credited to the Director's Account.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Alan Gilman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----