8-K

                                

                            FORM 8-K
                                
        UNITED STATES 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

                                
                           May 6, 1999
        (Date of Report, date of earliest event reported)
                                
                                
                       Stage Stores, Inc.
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                
                                
             Commission file number 001-14035



           DELAWARE                         76-0407711
(State or other jurisdiction of          (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)         Identifications No.)
                                                 
  10201 Main Street, Houston,                 77025
             Texas                          (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive
           offices)


                         (713) 667-5601
      (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                         Not Applicable
     (Former name or address, if changed since last report)

                                
ITEM 5.  Other Events.

     A  press release regarding the Company's first quarter  1999
sales results and certain other matters was issued by the Company
on May 6, 1999 and is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

ITEM 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (a)  Financial statements of business acquired.
       
       Not applicable.
       
     (b)  Pro forma financial information.
     
       Not applicable.
       
     (c)  Exhibits.

       99.1  Press release dated May 6, 1999 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, thereunto duly authorized.

                                        STAGE STORES, INC.

May 6, 1999                             /s/ James A. Marcum
 (Date)                                 James A. Marcum
                                        Vice Chairman and,
                                        Chief Financial Officer

                                
                                                                

EX-99.1

                                


NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT:
Bob Aronson
Director of Investor Relations
(800) 579-2302
          
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

       STAGE STORES, INC. REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 1999 SALES
                 ______________________________

HOUSTON, TX, May 6, 1999 -- Stage Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SGE)  today
reported  that  sales for the first quarter  ended  May  1,  1999
decreased 3.7% to $262.6 million from $272.8 million for the same
period  last  year.   This year's first  quarter  sales  are  not
comparable  to the first quarter of 1998 since last year's  first
quarter  included a significant amount of sales  associated  with
the  conversion  of  the C.R. Anthony stores.   Comparable  store
sales for the first quarter of 1999 declined 10.1%.

Commenting  on  the results, Carl E. Tooker, Chairman,  President
and  Chief Executive Officer, stated, "When evaluating the  sales
results for the first quarter, it is important to understand that
these  results  reflect the impact of the heavy  promotional  and
inventory  management activities which we put into  place  during
the fourth quarter of 1998.  As a result of these initiatives, we
began  the  quarter with significantly lower levels of  inventory
than  last  year  on a comparable store basis, particularly  with
respect  to clearance merchandise.  Our focus during the  quarter
was  on transitioning and building our assortments to reflect the
branded  fashion mix that has the greatest appeal to our customer
base.   This  process of transitioning our inventories  continued
throughout  the  entire quarter and will continue throughout  the
early  part of the second quarter.  As a result, total  inventory
levels  were  under  plan throughout the majority  of  the  first
quarter.   The  lower  level  of  clearance  inventories  at  the
beginning of the quarter had a significant impact on our February
volume  which  is traditionally a strong clearance sales  period.
In  addition,  sales for the earlier Easter selling  period  were
softer  than  expected  as  a result of  the  overall  levels  of
inventory  and  the  status of our merchandise transition  during
that period."

Mr.  Tooker,  continued,  "At the end of  the  quarter,  we  were
satisfied with our overall inventory levels and we are continuing
to  work  on further improving the mix of merchandise in  certain
categories.  It is important to note that sales during  the  last
three  weeks of April reflected substantial improvement over  the
trend for the first 10 weeks of the quarter primarily as a result
of the continued build of inventory levels."

Mr. Tooker concluded, "Although earnings for the quarter have not
been  finalized, we currently believe that diluted  earnings  per
share for the quarter will be at the low end of the current range
of  analysts' earnings per share estimates.  In addition,  it  is
important  to  note that we will be in full compliance  with  the
covenants contained in our working capital facility for the first
quarter   and  we  have  satisfied  the  facility's  clean   down
requirements  for the twelve month period ending July  31,  1999.
Finally, we continue to receive the full cooperation and  support
from  our  vendor community.  We will release our  first  quarter
earnings on May 20, 1999."

Stage  Stores,  Inc.  brings  nationally  recognized  brand  name
apparel,  accessories,  cosmetics and  footwear  for  the  entire
family  to  small  towns  and communities throughout  the  United
States.  The company operated 688 stores in 34 states at the  end
of  the  first  quarter, primarily under the  Stage,  Bealls  and
Palais Royal trade names.

Any  statements  in  this press release that  may  be  considered
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
that  could  cause  actual results to differ  materially.   These
risks  and uncertainties are discussed in periodic reports  filed
by  the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission  that
the Company urges investors to consider.
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