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

July 6, 2006

(Date of Report, date of earliest event reported)

Stage Stores, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

1-14035

(Commission File Number)

NEVADA	91-1826900
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
10201 Main Street, Houston, Texas	77025
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(800) 579-2302

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01. Other Events.

June Sales Release

On July 6, 2006, Stage Stores, Inc. (the "Company") issued a news release announcing the Company's June 2006 sales and that comparable store sales increased 3.5%.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

99 News Release issued by Stage Stores, Inc. on July 6, 2006 announcing the Company's June 2006 sales andthat comparable store sales increased 3.5%.

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, hereunto duly authorized.

	STAGE STORES, INC.
July 7, 2006	/s/ Michael E. McCreery
(Date)	Michael E. McCreery
	Executive Vice President and
	Chief Financial Officer

EX-99

Exhibit 99

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT:

Bob Aronson

Vice President, Investor Relations

800-579-2302

(baronson@stagestores.com)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STAGE STORES REPORTS JUNE SALES

-- COMPARABLE STORE SALES INCREASE 3.5% --

HOUSTON, TX, July 6, 2006 - Stage Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SSI) today reported that total sales for the five-week period ended July 1, 2006 increased 16.0% to $133.4 million from $115.0 million in the prior year five-week period ended July 2, 2005. Comparable store sales increased 3.5% on top of an 11.0% increase last year. The Company noted that its comparable store sales do not include the sales generated by the acquired B.C. Moore stores.

Jim Scarborough, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased to have achieved a 3.5% comparable store sales increase in June versus an extremely tough 11.0% same store sales increase comparison from June 2005. Our solid sales performance was broad based, with most of our major merchandise categories achieving comparable store sales increases during the month. Our cosmetics and women's special sizes were our top performing categories, generating comparable sales increases of 9.1% and 8.6%, respectively. Other top performing categories included children's, which was up 7.8%, home décor, which advanced 5.2%, and junior sportswear, which rose 4.8%."

SALES SUMMARY

	Comparable Store Sales Trend		Total Sales
	% Increase (Decrease)		($ in Millions)
Fiscal Period	2006	2005	2006	2005
1st Quarter	3.2	4.9	343.5	310.1
May	4.0	7.0	116.1	100.0
June	3.5	11.0	133.4	115.0
2nd Qtr-To-Date	3.7	9.1	249.5	215.0
Year-To-Date (5 mos)	3.4	6.6	593.0	525.1

--more--

Stage Stores Reports June Sales

Page - - 2

Store Activity

As planned, during June, the Company closed its Peebles store in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and on July 4^th, the Company closed its Peebles store in Cullman, Alabama.

For the entire 2006 fiscal year, the Company continues to anticipate opening a total of 108 new stores, or a net of 106 stores after closures, which includes the conversion of 69 of the acquired B.C. Moore stores to Peebles stores. With regard to its conversion activities, the Company reported that it is on track to open the first two groups of converted Peebles stores, or 23 total stores, during the first week of August.

About Stage Stores

Stage Stores, Inc. brings nationally recognized brand name apparel, accessories, cosmetics and footwear for the entire family to small and mid-size towns and communities through 559 stores located in 31 states. The Company operates under the Bealls, Palais Royal and Stage names throughout the South Central states, and under the Peebles name throughout the Midwestern, Southeastern, Mid-Atlantic and New England states. In addition, on February 27, 2006, the Company purchased B.C. Moore & Sons, Inc., and acquired 78 retail locations situated in the Southeast. The Company currently plans to convert 69 of the acquired stores to its Peebles name and format, in phases, beginning in early August, while the remaining 9 stores will be closed. For more information about Stage Stores, visit the Company's web site at www.stagestores.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including comments regarding the Company's store opening plans for the 2006 fiscal year and comments regarding the Company's expected timing of the opening of its first two groups of converted Peebles stores. The Company intends forward looking terminology such as "believes", "expects", "may", "will", "should", "could", "anticipates", "plans" or similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 13, 2006, in the Company's most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC and other factors as may periodically be described in other Company filings with the SEC.

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