Exhibit 99

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT:

Bob Aronson

Vice President, Investor Relations

800-579-2302

(baronson@stagestores.com)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STAGE STORES ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER EARNINGS RELEASE DATE AND CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

HOUSTON, TX, March 3, 2009 - Stage Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SSI) announced today that it will release its fourth quarter 2008 financial results at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, March 10, 2009.  The release of the Company’s fourth quarter financial results will be followed by a conference call, which will be held at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the same day.

Interested parties can participate in the Company’s fourth quarter conference call by dialing 703-639-1410.  Alternatively, interested parties can listen to a live webcast of the conference call by logging on to the Company's web site at www.stagestores.com and then clicking on Investor Relations, then Webcasts, then the webcast link.  A replay of the conference call will be available online until midnight on Friday, March 20, 2009.

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 738 stores located in 38 states.  The Company operates its stores under the four names of Bealls, Palais Royal, Peebles and Stage.  For more information about Stage Stores, visit the Company’s web site at www.stagestores.com.

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