Exhibit 99

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT:

Bob Aronson

Vice President, Investor Relations

800-579-2302

(baronson@stagestores.com)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STAGE STORES ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS RELEASE DATE AND CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

HOUSTON, TX, August 14, 2008 - Stage Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SSI) announced today that it will release its second quarter 2008 financial results at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, August 21, 2008.  The release of the Company’s second quarter financial results will be followed by a conference call, which will be held at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the same day.

Interested parties can participate in the Company’s second quarter conference call by dialing 703-639-1125.  Alternatively, interested parties can listen to a live webcast of the conference call by logging on to the Company's web site at www.stagestores.com and then clicking on Investor Relations, then Webcasts, then the webcast link.  A replay of the conference call will be available online until midnight on Friday, August 29, 2008.

About Stage Stores

Stage Stores, Inc. brings nationally recognized brand name apparel, accessories, cosmetics and footwear for the entire family to small and mid-size towns and communities through 720 stores located in 36 states.  The Company operates under the Bealls, Palais Royal and Stage names throughout the South Central, Southwestern and Northwestern states, and under the Peebles name throughout the Midwestern, Southeastern, Mid-Atlantic and New England states.  For more information about Stage Stores, visit the Company’s web site at www.stagestores.com.

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