-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 /aSc4iu00S0G1Bnlz8HODA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000006885-06-000020.txt : 20060321
<SEC-HEADER>0000006885-06-000020.hdr.sgml : 20060321
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060321184256
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000006885-06-000020
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060317
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060321
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060321

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LUCAS RON
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183613

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14035
		FILM NUMBER:		06702226

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O STAGE STORES INC
		STREET 2:		10201 S. MAIN
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77025
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7136675601

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O STAGE STORES
		STREET 2:		10201 S. MAIN
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77025
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rlucas.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-17</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183613</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LUCAS RON</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10201 S. 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, Human Resources</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.77</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>28.77</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-03-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-03-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>164843</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes all derivative securities currently owned by the reporting person including those previously reported and options to purchase 52,281 shares of the issuer's common stock received by the reporting person on August 19, 2005 as a result of the three-for-two split of the issuer's common stock payable as a stock dividend to all holders of record of the issuer's common stock at the close of business on August 4, 2005 and the antidilution provisions of the issuer's Amended and Restated 2001 Equity Incentive Plan as approved by the issuer's shareholders on June 3, 2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On March 17, 2006, Mr. Lucas was granted Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) with respect to a total of 8,000 shares of common stock.  The grant price for the SARs is $28.77 per share of common stock.  The SARs will vest at the rate of 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 Mr. Lucas is no longer an officer of Stage Stores Inc. or (ii) seven years from the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>s/ R. E. Stasyszen, Attorney in Fact for Ronald Lucas</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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