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



       Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): September 9, 2003
                                                         -----------------


                            THE BON-TON STORES, INC.
                 -----------------------------------------------
                 (Exact Name of Registrant Specified in Charter)

      Pennsylvania                   0-19517                  23-2835229
  ----------------------       --------------------          -------------
     (State or Other            (Commission File           (I.R.S. Employer
     Jurisdiction of                 Number)              Identification No.)
     Incorporation)


         2801 E. Market Street
           York, Pennsylvania                                17402
- ----------------------------------------           ------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                  (Zip Code)




        Registrants telephone number, including area code: (717) 757-7660
                                                           ---------------



Item 5.  Other Events and Required FD Disclosure.

         On September 9, 2003, The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. issued a press release
announcing the declaration of a cash dividend on Class A Common Stock and Common
Stock of the Company. The full text of the press release is attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (c)   Exhibits

         99.1 Press Release issued September 9, 2003 regarding declaration of a
cash dividend on Class A Common Stock and Common Stock of the Company.


                                    SIGNATURE


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                            The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.


                                            By: /s/ Keith E. Plowman
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Keith E. Plowman
                                                Senior Vice President, Finance


Dated: September 9, 2003

EX-99

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

      The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend

    YORK, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 2003--The Bon-Ton Stores,
Inc. (Nasdaq:BONT) today announced the Board of Directors declared a
cash dividend of 2 1/2 cents per share on the Class A Common Stock and
Common Stock of the Company payable October 15, 2003 to shareholders
of record as of October 1, 2003.
    James H. Baireuther, Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative
Officer, commented, "We are pleased to announce this cash dividend to
our shareholders. As we indicated when we announced our dividend for
the first quarter, our liquidity and strong balance sheet allow us to
provide this avenue of return to our shareholders. Our Board of
Directors will consider dividends in subsequent periods as it deems
appropriate."
    The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. operates 72 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 the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

    CONTACT: The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
             Mary Kerr, 717-751-3071