UNITED STATES
               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C. 20549

                           FORM 12b-25

NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING                           SEC FILE NUMBER
                                                        001-14035
                                                       CUSIP NUMBER
                                                        85254C 10 7

(Check One)   X Form 10-K
                Form 20-F   Form  11-K  Form 10-Q  Form N-SAR

          For Period Ended: January 29, 2000
          [  ] Transition Report on Form 10-K
          [  ] Transition Report on Form 20-F
          [  ] Transition Report on Form 11-K
          [  ] Transition Report on Form 10-Q
          [  ] Transition Report on Form N-SAR
          For the Transition Period Ended:
          _____________________________________
 Read Instruction (on back page) Before Preparing Form.  Please
                         Print or Type.
    Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the
    Commission has verified any information contained herein.

If the notification relates to a portion of the filing checked
above, identify the Item(s) to which the notification relates:


PART I - REGISTRANT INFORMATION
Stage Stores, Inc.
Full Name of Registrant
Not Applicable
Former Name if Applicable
10201 Main Street
Address of Principal Executive Office (Street and Number)
Houston, TX 77025
City, State and Zip Code

PART II - RULES 12b-25(b) AND (c)

 If the  subject  report could not be filed without  unreasonable
effort  or  expense and the registrant seeks relief  pursuant  to
Rule 12b-25(b), the following should be completed.  (Check box if
appropriate)

  X  (a)  The reasons described in reasonable detail in Part
          III  of  this  form  could not  be  eliminated  without
          unreasonable effort or expense.
     (b)  The   subject   annual   report,  semi-annual   report,
          transition  report  on Form 10-K, Form  20-F,  11-F  or
          Form  N-SAR,  or portion thereof, will be filed  on  or
          before   the  fifteenth  calendar  day  following   the
          prescribed due date, or the subject quarterly report of
          transition report on Form 10-Q, or portion thereof will
          be  filed on or before the fifth calendar day following
          the prescribed due date; and
          (c)    The  accountant's  statement  or  other  exhibit
          required  by  Rule  12b-25(c)  has  been  attached   if
          applicable.

PART III - NARRATIVE

 State below in reasonable detail the reasons why Forms 10-K,
20-F, 11-K, 10-Q, N-SAR, or the transition report or portion
thereof, could not be filed within the prescribed time period.

 Additional time is required to compile the information  necessary
to file a complete and accurate Form 10-K.

PART IV - OTHER INFORMATION

(1)  Name and telephone number of person to contact in regard  to
     this notification.

     Charles M. Sledge         713              669-2652
         (Name)            (Area Code)     (Telephone Number)

(2)  Have all other periodic reports required under Section 13 or
     15(d)  of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section  30
     of  the  Investment Company Act of 1940 during the preceding
     12 months or for such shorter period that the registrant was
     required  to file such report(s) been filed?  If  answer  is
     no, identify report(s).

     X Yes    No


(3)  Is  it anticipated that any significant change in results of
     operations from the corresponding period for the last fiscal
     year  will  be  reflected by the earnings statements  to  be
     included in the subject report or portion thereof?

     Yes  X No


     If so, attach an explanation of the anticipated change, both
     narratively  and quantitatively, and, if appropriate,  state
     the  reasons why a reasonable estimate of the results cannot
     be made.


                     Stage Stores, Inc.

          (Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

has caused this notification to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date    April 28, 2000             By        /s/ John Wiesner
                                        John Wiesner, Chairman,
                                        Chief Executive Officer
                                        and President