EXHIBIT 32

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Stage Stores, Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2005 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), we, James R. Scarborough and Michael E. McCreery, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act of 2002, that to our knowledge:

1.         The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

2.         The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

June 7, 2005                                                                                               /s/ James R. Scarborough      
                                                                                                                   James R. Scarborough
                                                                                                                   Chief Executive Officer

                                                                                                                    /s/ Michael E. McCreery       
                                                                                                                   Michael E. McCreery
                                                                                                                   Chief Financial Officer