-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QxjGHkgjaf4lf+jliLBBFUF9iIYCkWRrJn2bNEk9cJVFQuAPZh0xn31hxDpNBdfk
 8wh8YC+MxyELbqP8Ct50JA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000897069-08-001878.txt : 20081208
<SEC-HEADER>0000897069-08-001878.hdr.sgml : 20081208
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081208163603
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000897069-08-001878
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081205
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081208
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081208

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEIN MART INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000884940
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-FAMILY CLOTHING STORES [5651]
		IRS NUMBER:				640466198
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0102

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 RIVERPLACE BLVD
		CITY:			JACKSONVILLE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32207
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9043461500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 RIVERPLACE BLVD
		CITY:			JACKSONVILLE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32207

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STOVALL DAVID H JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001451540

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20052
		FILM NUMBER:		081236156

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		904-346-1500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 RIVERPLACE BLVD.
		CITY:			JACKSONVILLE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32207
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>dkm1628_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000884940</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STEIN MART INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SMRT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001451540</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STOVALL DAVID H JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1200 RIVERPLACE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>JACKSONVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>32207</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-12-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-12-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1000000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Granted pursuant to Stein Mart, Inc. 2001 Omnibus Plan. One-third of the options vest on each of the first, second and third
 anniversaries of the grant date.  Shares acquired on exercise of the options may not be sold until the  earlier of (1) one
 year from the date of exercise, or (2) a change of control of the Company.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David H. Stovall Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----