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

April 11, 2002

(Date of Report, date of earliest event reported)

Stage Stores, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

000-21011

(Commission File Number)

NEVADA (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	91-1826900 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
10201 Main Street, Houston, Texas (Address of principal executive offices)	77025 (Zip Code)

(713) 667-5601

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

ITEM 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.

On April 11, 2002, the Company issued a news release announcing sales for March 2002.  A copy of the news release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

ITEM 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

1. Financial statements of business acquired.

Not applicable.

2. Pro forma financial information.

Not applicable.

3. Exhibits.

99.1    News Release dated April 11, 2002 issued by the Company.

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.

                                                                 STAGE STORES, INC.

April 11, 2002                                          /s/ Michael E. McCreery          

(Date)                                                       Michael E. McCreery

                                                                 Executive Vice President and Chief

                                                                 Financial Officer

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT:

Bob Aronson
Director of Investor Relations
800-579-2302
(baronson@stagestores.com)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STAGE STORES REPORTS MARCH SALES

HOUSTON, TX, April 11, 2002 - Stage Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: STGS) today reported a 14.2% increase in comparable store sales for the five week March period ended April 6, 2002 as compared to the prior year five week March period ended April 7, 2001. Total sales for the March period were $83.4 million this year versus $73.9 million last year, an increase of 12.9%. The Company operated 342 stores during most of March 2002 while it operated 347 stores during most of March 2001.

Comparable store sales for March 2002 benefited from the fact that the Easter holiday fell into the March period this year while it fell into the April period last year. It is expected that this calendar shift will negatively impact comparable store sales comparisons for April 2002. As a result, the Company currently anticipates that its comparable store sales gain for the entire first quarter will be at the high end of a range from 3% - 6%.

SALES SUMMARY

	Comparable Store Sales Trend			Total Sales
Fiscal Period	% Increase			($ in Millions)
	2002	2001(a)	2001(b)	2002	2001
		(Calendar	(Fiscal	(Fiscal	(Fiscal
		Adj. Basis)	Basis)	Basis)	Basis)
February	6.2%	20.9%	25.1%	$62.5	$59.6
March	14.2	10.9	16.0	83.4	73.9
1st Quarter-To-Date	10.7	15.2	19.9	145.9	133.5

1. The 2001 Calendar Adjusted Basis column compares the nine week period starting on February 4, 2001 to the nine week period starting on February 6, 2000.

(b) The 2001 Fiscal Basis column compares the nine week period starting on February 4, 2001 to the nine week period starting on January 30, 2000.

--more--

Stage Stores Reports
March Sales
Page - 2

During the fiscal month, the Company closed one of its three stores in Brownsville, Texas. During April, the Company will open a store in Longview, Texas.

Stage Stores, Inc. brings nationally recognized brand name apparel, accessories, cosmetics and footwear for the entire family to small towns and communities throughout the south central United States. The Company currently operates a total of 341 stores in 13 states under the Stage, Bealls and Palais Royal names.

On the effective date of the Company's Plan of Reorganization, August 24, 2001, Stage Stores, Inc., a Delaware corporation, merged into its wholly-owned subsidiary, Specialty Retailers, Inc. (NV), a Nevada corporation (the "Merger Date"). On the Merger Date, Specialty Retailers, Inc. (NV), the surviving corporation, changed its name to Stage Stores, Inc. For all periods referenced, Stage Stores, Inc. and its predecessor in interest are both referred to above as "Stage Stores" or the "Company".

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expectations regarding the rate of improvement in comparable store sales during the first quarter of fiscal 2002. The Company intends forward looking terminology such as "believes", "expects", "may", "will", "should", "anticipates", "plans" or similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in the Company's Amendment No. 1 to Form 10, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on December 13, 2001, and other factors as may periodically be described in other Company filings with the SEC.

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