EXHIBIT 99




                                 [BON-TON LOGO]
                                  NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                     CONTACT:

                                          Mary Kerr
                                          Divisional Vice President
                                          Corporate Communications
                                          (717) 751-3071

        THE BON-TON STORES, INC. APPOINTS KPMG LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITOR


            YORK, PA--JUNE 13, 2002 - THE BON-TON STORES INC. (NASDAQ: BONT)
today announced its Board of Directors has appointed KPMG LLP as the company's
independent auditor for the fiscal year ending February 1, 2003.

            After extensive evaluation, the Board selected KPMG based on its
experience in the retail industry, its local capabilities and the technical
skills of the firm's professionals assigned to the Bon-Ton account.

            KPMG replaces Arthur Andersen LLP as Bon-Ton's independent auditor.
The decision to change auditors was not the result of any disagreement between
the company and Arthur Andersen on any matter of accounting principles or
practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures.

            The Bon-Ton's Vice-Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer, James
H. Baireuther said, "We look forward to working with KPMG as our independent
auditor." In addition, Mr. Baireuther said, "The Bon-Ton had a long relationship
with Arthur Andersen and was very satisfied with Andersen's services,
professionalism and independence. Unfortunately, we believe recent events
dictated changes within Andersen which prevent the firm from continuing to serve
us as they have in the past."

         The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. operates 73 department stores in targeted
markets in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and West Virginia. The stores carry a
broad assortment of quality, brand-name fashion apparel and accessories for
women, men and children, as well as distinctive home furnishings.


Statements made in this press release, other than statements of historical
information, are forward looking statements and are made pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ
materially from those set forth in these






statements. Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not
limited to, risks related to retail businesses generally, additional competition
from existing and new competitors, uncertainties associated with opening new
stores or expanding or remodeling existing stores, the Company's presence in and
dependence on limited geographic markets, the ability to attract and retain
qualified management, the dependence upon key vendor relationships and the
ability to obtain financing for working capital, capital expenditures and
general corporate purposes. Additional factors that could cause the Company's
actual results to differ from those contained in these forward looking
statements are discussed in greater detail in the Company's periodic reports
filed with Securities and Exchange Commission.