Exhibit 99.1

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer Resigns

    YORK, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 21, 2004--The Bon-Ton Stores,
Inc. (NASDAQ:BONT) today announced that Frank Tworecke, President and
Chief Operating Officer, has resigned effective May 7, 2004. Mr.
Tworecke has been named Group President, Sportswear for Warnaco and
will have responsibility for Warnaco's Calvin Klein(R) Jeans, Calvin
Klein(R) Underwear and Chaps units.
    Tim Grumbacher, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer,
stated, "We appreciate the many outstanding contributions Frank made
to the Bon-Ton during the past four and a half years. We wish him
continued success in all his endeavors."
    Mr. Grumbacher continued, "Until a successor has been named, Bud
Bergren, Vice Chairman and formerly President and Chief Executive
Officer of The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp., will assume Frank's
responsibilities."
    "In addition," Mr. Grumbacher commented, "as previously announced
last fall, I will be stepping down as Chief Executive Officer
consistent with the Company's on-going succession planning process. I
will continue as Chairman of the Board. The Company expects to
announce the new Chief Executive Officer after the regularly scheduled
May meeting of the board of directors."
    The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. operates 142 department stores in 16
states from the Northeast to the Midwest under the Bon-Ton and
Elder-Beerman names. 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. The Bon-Ton and
Elder-Beerman stores provide high-quality merchandise at competitive
prices delivered with top-quality service in targeted markets. For
further information, please visit the investor relations section of
the Company's website at www.bonton.com/investor/home.asp.

    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, our ability to integrate the recently acquired
Elder-Beerman stores into our over-all operations, 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
             Divisional Vice President
             Corporate Communications
             (717) 751-3071