8-K

                       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

       Date  of  Report  (Date  of  earliest  event  reported):  April  8,  2003


                              99(CENT)  ONLY  STORES
               (Exact  Name  of  Registrant  as  Specified  in  Charter)



           California                  1-11735                 95-2411605
   (State or Other Jurisdiction       (Commission             (IRS Employer
       of  Incorporation)             File  Number)         Identification No.)


4000  East  Union  Pacific  Avenue
City  of  Commerce,  California                                       90023
(Address  of  Principal  Executive  Offices)                       (Zip  Code)


  Registrant's  telephone  number,  including  area  code:  (323)  980-8145



ITEM  5.  Other  Events  and  Required  FD  Disclosure

          On April 8, 2003, the Company issued a press release. The press
release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM  7.  Financial  Statements,  Pro  Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

          The press release described in Item 5 above is attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.



                                   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.

                              99(cent)ONLY  STORES

Date:  April  8,  2003                      By:  /S/  ANDREW  FARINA


                                          ---------------------------------
                                            Andrew  Farina
                                            Chief  Financial  Officer





                                    PAGE  2



                                  EXHIBIT  INDEX

Exhibit  No.     Description

99               Press  Release  dated  April  8,  2003.

EX-99

Exhibit  99


99  ONLY STORES(R) REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2003 RETAIL SALES OF $184.7 MILLION, UP
23.4%  FROM THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2002. SAME STORE SALES FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF
2003  INCREASED  4.3%.

     CITY  OF  COMMERCE,  CA  -  April  8, 2003 -- 99  Only Stores(R) (NYSE:NDN)
reported  total  sales  of  $196.4 million for the first quarter ended March 31,
2003. This represents an increase of $33.3 million or 20.4% over sales of $163.1
million  during  the  first  quarter  of  2002.
     Retail  sales  for 99  Only Stores were $184.7 million, up $35.1 million or
23.4%  from sales of $149.6 million in 2002. The full quarter effect of 2002 new
store  additions  accounted  for  the  majority  of  this  increase.
     Same-store-sales  for  99  Only  Stores,  increased  4.3%  during the first
quarter of 2003. An increase in the number of transactions accounted for most of
the  same-store-sales  increase.
     During  the  first quarter of 2003, 99  Only Stores(R) opened three stores,
all  in California. Five stores are expected to open late in the second quarter,
including  the Company's first Texas store in Houston; 30 stores are planned for
the  second  half of this year. The projected 2003 annual store openings are 38,
including  15  in  Houston.
     Bargain  Wholesale  sales for the first quarter were $11.7 million compared
to  $13.5  million  in  2002.  Bargain  Wholesale  sales represent 6.0% of first
quarter  total  sales.
     Eric  Schiffer,  President of the Company said, "We are pleased to announce
continued strong retail sales and same store sales in the first quarter of 2003,
especially  in  light  of  the  shift  of  the Easter season sales to the second
quarter  this  year.  We  believe  this shows greater acceptance of the 99  Only
Stores  format  by  the  consumer.
     We  believe  that  our  recent  merchandising  efforts,  along  with  our
information  systems  initiatives,  which  have  improved  our  retail  in-stock
position and product display placement, have helped to increase sales. We expect
to  either  meet  or slightly exceed the First Call consensus estimate of $0.19"
     99  Only  Stores(R),  the  nation's  oldest  existing  one-price  retailer,
operates  154  retail  stores, in California, Arizona and Nevada and a wholesale
division  called  Bargain  Wholesale.  99  Only  Stores(R) emphasizes name-brand
consumables,  priced at an excellent value, in attractively merchandised stores.
     This  press  release  contains forward-looking statements, as referenced in
the  Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act  of  1995  (the  "Act").
Forward-looking  statements  are  inherently  unreliable  and actual results may
differ. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these
forward-looking  statements  include,  changes  in the competitive market place,
general  economic  conditions, factors affecting the retail industry in general,
the  timing  of  new  store  openings,  the  ability  of  the company to acquire
inventory  at  favorable  costs  and  other  factors  discussed in the company's
filings  with  the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no
obligation  to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether
as  a  result  of  new  information,  future  events  or  otherwise.

Note to Editors:   99  Only Stores(R) news releases and information available on
the  World  Wide  Web  at  htpp://www.99only.com
CONTACT:  99  Only  Stores(R),  City of Commerce, California,  Andy Farina, CFO,
323/881-9933
                              --99--