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

July 1, 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 July 1, 2002, the Company issued a news release announcing the Company's addition to the Russell Indexes.  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 July 1, 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.

July 1, 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 ANNOUNCES COMPANY'S ADDITION TO RUSSELL INDEXES

HOUSTON, TX, July 1, 2002 - Stage Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: STGS) today announced that the Company was added to the Russell 2000 Index, a major stock market index published by Frank Russell Company. The newly reconstituted index went into effect on July 1, 2002.

Russell indexes are widely used by managers for index funds and as benchmarks for both passive and active investment strategies. The annual reconstitution of the Russell indexes captures the 3,000 largest U.S. stocks as of the end of May, ranking them by total market capitalization to create the Russell 3000 Index. The largest 1,000 companies in the ranking comprise the large-cap Russell 1000 Index, while the remaining 2,000 companies become the widely used small-cap Russell 2000 Index.

Jim Scarborough, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are delighted to be included in such a widely utilized and respected index. It speaks to the progress that the Company has made since its listing on the Nasdaq National Market on January 8, 2002."

According to Frank Russell Company, membership in Russell's 21 U.S. equity indexes is determined strictly by market capitalization rankings and style attributes rather than by subjective opinion or committee decisions. About $250 billion is invested in index funds based on Russell's indexes and an additional $850 billion is benchmarked to them. Investment managers who oversee these funds purchase shares of member stocks according to that company's weighting in the particular index.

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 342 stores in 13 states under the Stage, Bealls and Palais Royal names.

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