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): May 27, 2004
                                                           ------------


                            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 May 27, 2004, 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 May 27, 2004 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
                                         and Principal Accounting Officer


Dated: May 27, 2004

EX-99.1

                                                                  Exhibit 99.1

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

    YORK, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 27, 2004--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 July 15, 2004 to shareholders of
record as of July 1, 2004.
    James H. Baireuther, Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative
Officer, commented, "We are pleased to announce this cash dividend to
our shareholders. This represents the Company's fifth consecutive
quarterly dividend, which we believe, given our liquidity and strong
balance sheet, is an appropriate 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 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 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
             Vice President
             Corporate Communications
             (717) 751-3071