Exhibit 99.1


99  CENTS  ONLY  STORES(R)  REPORTS  SECOND  QUARTER 2003 RETAIL SALES OF $195.0
MILLION,  UP  25.5%  FROM  THE  SECOND  QUARTER  OF  2002.
     CITY  OF  COMMERCE, CA - July 8, 2003 -- 99 Cents Only Stores(R) (NYSE:NDN)
reported  total  sales  of  $207.0 million for the second quarter ended June 30,
2003. This represents an increase of $39.2 million or 23.3% over sales of $167.9
million  during  the  second  quarter  of  2002.
     Retail sales for 99 Cents Only Stores were $195.0 million, up $39.6 million
or  25.5%  from  sales  of  $155.4  million  in  2002.
     Total  sales  for the six months ended June 30, 2003 were $403.5 million up
$72.5 million over last year or an increase of 21.9%. Total retail sales for the
first  six  months  of  2003  were $379.8 million up $74.7 million over 2002, an
increase  of  24.5%.
     The  Company  opened  10  new  stores  in the second quarter, including the
Company's  first  four stores in Texas. A total of 25 stores are planned for the
second  half of this year. The planned 2003 new store openings are 38, including
at  least  15  in  Houston.
     Same-store-sales  were  9.8% during the second quarter of 2003. An increase
in  the  number  of  transactions  accounted  for  most  of the same-store-sales
increase.  Same-store-sales  were  7.4%  for  the  first  six  months  of  2003.
     Bargain  Wholesale  sales for the second quarter of 2003 were $12.0 million
and  were $12.4 in the second quarter of 2002. Bargain Wholesale sales represent
5.8%  of  second  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 second quarter of
2003.  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.
     From  June  12,  2003  through  June  30, 2003, the Company opened 9 stores
(including  its  first  4  stores  in  Texas). While many of the expenditures in
connection with the accelerated entry into Texas and the opening of other stores
near  the  end of the second quarter were incurred in the second quarter, little
sales  therefrom  were realized during the second quarter. The positive earnings
benefit  from  the  increase  in same-store-sales during the second quarter will
likely  be  slightly  more  than  offset  by  the  amount  and  timing  of these
expenditures  and  the  negative  sales and earnings impact of the store opening
schedule  and  the entry into Texas. It is likely that the Company will slightly
miss  the First Call consensus second quarter EPS estimate of $0.22. The Company
is  scheduled  to release its second quarter earnings on Tuesday, July 22, 2003.
     Similar  to our experiences in other new markets, our new Texas stores have
received  strong  initial  customer  support  and  have generated favorable free
publicity  in  the  Houston  print  and television media. We are also pleased to
announce  our new 740,000 square foot Houston distribution center is operational
and  is  servicing  our  stores  in  Texas."
     99  Cents  Only Stores(R), the nation's oldest existing one-price retailer,
operates  164  retail  stores,  in  California,  Arizona, Nevada and Texas and a
wholesale  division called Bargain Wholesale. 99 Cents 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
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