8-K

                        SECURITY AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 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): December 24, 2003

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                             THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.
               (Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

DELAWARE                              1-4908               44-2207613
- --------                              ------               ----------
(State or other jurisdiction          (Common File         (I.R.S. employer
of incorporation)                     Number)              identification No.)

                                   ----------

                    770 Cochituate Road, Framingham, MA 01701
               ---------------------------------------------------
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (508) 390-1000
               Registrant's Telephone Number (including area code)

                                       N/A
                                       ---
                         (Former name or former address,
                          if changed since last report)



ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

On December 24, 2003,  The TJX Companies,  Inc.  announced that it had completed
the purchase of  substantially  all of the assets of Bob's Stores,  Inc. and its
subsidiaries, pursuant to an agreement previously announced on October 22, 2003.


ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)  EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number    Title
- --------------    -----

99.1              Press Release, dated December 24, 2003 of The TJX Companies,
                  Inc.

                                       2



                                   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.


                                                 THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.



                                                 /s/ Donald G. Campbell
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Donald G. Campbell
                                                 Executive Vice President and
                                                 Chief Financial Officer

Dated:  December 24, 2003

                                       3



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number    Description
- --------------    -----------

99.1              Press Release, dated December 24, 2003 of The TJX Companies,
                  Inc.

                                       4

EX-99

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

          The TJX Companies, Inc. Completes Acquisition of Bob's Stores

    FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 24, 2003--The TJX
Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TJX), the leading off-price retailer of apparel
and home fashions in the U.S. and worldwide, today announced that it
has completed its acquisition of Bob's Stores, a Connecticut-based,
value-oriented retail chain in the Northeast.
    TJX has purchased substantially all of the assets of Bob's Stores
and its subsidiaries and assumed leases for 31 of Bob's Stores'
locations, its Meriden, Connecticut, office and warehouse lease, along
with specified operating contracts, and customer, vendor and employee
obligations. The estimated purchase price of $59 million is subject to
final adjustments, including a physical inventory, and is net of funds
provided by a third party.
    Edmond J. English, President and Chief Executive Officer of The
TJX Companies, Inc., stated, "I am very pleased with the addition of
Bob's Stores to the TJX family of companies, which represents another
prospect for our Company's growth well into the future. With our
excellent track record of starting and acquiring businesses, we
believe Bob's Stores will be a significant long-term growth vehicle
for TJX, with the potential over time of providing a
multi-billion-dollar revenue stream and growing to be a chain of 400
stores in the U.S. While we see significant long-term potential with
Bob's Stores, this acquisition is expected to have only a minimal
impact on TJX's earnings per share over the next few years. We welcome
Bob's Stores' management team and organization to TJX and look forward
to working with them."
    The TJX Companies, Inc. is the leading off-price retailer of
apparel and home fashions in the U.S. and worldwide. The Company
operates 749 T.J. Maxx, 674 Marshalls, 182 HomeGoods, 99 A.J. Wright,
and 31 Bob's stores in the United States. In Canada, the Company
operates 160 Winners and 25 HomeSense stores, and in Europe, 147 T.K.
Maxx stores. TJX's press releases and financial information are also
available on the Internet at www.tjx.com.
    For more detailed information about Bob's Stores, its strategic
fit with TJX, and TJX's future plans for this business, you may access
a recorded message from October 2003, when TJX originally announced
its plan to purchase Bob's Stores, via the Internet at www.tjx.com.

    SAFE HARBOR STATEMENTS UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION
REFORM ACT OF 1995: Various statements made in this release are
forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. All
statements that address activities, events or developments that we
intend, expect or believe may occur in the future are forward-looking
statements. The following are some of the factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements: general economic conditions including effects of wars,
other military actions and terrorist incidents; consumer confidence,
demand and preferences; weather patterns; competitive factors,
including continuing pressure from pricing and promotional activities
of competitors; the impact of excess retail capacity and the
availability of desirable store and distribution center locations on
suitable terms; recruiting quality sales associates and other
associates; the availability, selection and purchasing of attractive
merchandise on favorable terms and the effective management of
inventory levels; import risks, including potential disruptions in
supply and duties, tariffs and quotas on imported merchandise,
including economic, political or other problems in countries from
which merchandise is imported; currency and exchange rate factors in
our foreign and buying operations; ability to continue successful
expansion of our store base at the rate projected; risks in the
development of new businesses and application of our off-price
strategies in additional foreign countries; factors affecting expenses
including pressure on wages and benefits; our acquisition and
divestment activities; our ultimate liability with respect to leases
relating to discontinued operations including indemnification and
other factors affecting or mitigating our liability; changes in laws
and regulations; factors which affect our ability to execute our
business plan for Bob's Stores and achieve profitability; and other
factors that may be described in our filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. We do not undertake to publicly update or revise
our forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes
make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein
will not be realized.


    CONTACT: The TJX Companies, Inc.
             Sherry Lang, Vice President
             Investor and Public Relations
             (508) 390-2323