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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Nqfk7y2JihAODgZOl/ZR/KOZxOEcaaomT4kWEj7IFtoOEP20ATB2Aai8+VnqRWaz
 toAVzhW9u1nRtxd0OJu6Hw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-09-018032.txt : 20090826
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-09-018032.hdr.sgml : 20090826
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090826133926
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-09-018032
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090824
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090826
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090826

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EVERTON MARSHA M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001229008

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19517
		FILM NUMBER:		091035879

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE BON-TON STORES, INC.
		STREET 2:		2801 E. MARKET ST., P.O. BOX 2821
		CITY:			YORK
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17405

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BON TON STORES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000878079
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-DEPARTMENT STORES [5311]
		IRS NUMBER:				232835229
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2801 E MARKET ST
		CITY:			YORK
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17402-2406
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7177577660

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 2821
		CITY:			YORK
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17405-2821
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-08-24</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000878079</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BON TON STORES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BONT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001229008</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EVERTON MARSHA M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2801 EAST MARKET STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>17402</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12320</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40106</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares of Common Stock were issued to the reporting person in the form of Restricted Stock Units pursuant to the Company's 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Keith E. Plowman, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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