-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IZQQezk4LtYXewFp55eJae1IIeGZ2xRNoDvjWlsfoB26P4iUPMkKVzx8MPXJfyjA
 cMUWF/QuxVdzt84ujlVXOg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000897069-09-000002.txt : 20090105
<SEC-HEADER>0000897069-09-000002.hdr.sgml : 20090105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090105161922
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000897069-09-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STOVALL DAVID H JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001451540

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20052
		FILM NUMBER:		09505387

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		904-346-1500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 RIVERPLACE BLVD.
		CITY:			JACKSONVILLE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32207

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEIN MART INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000884940
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-FAMILY CLOTHING STORES [5651]
		IRS NUMBER:				640466198
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0102

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 RIVERPLACE BLVD
		CITY:			JACKSONVILLE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32207
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9043461500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 RIVERPLACE BLVD
		CITY:			JACKSONVILLE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32207
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>dkm1639_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000884940</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STEIN MART INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SMRT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001451540</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STOVALL DAVID H JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1200 RIVERPLACE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>JACKSONVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>32207</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.28</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-01-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-01-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Granted pursuant to Stein Mart, Inc. 2001 Omnibus Plan. One-third of the options vest on December 5 in each of the years
 2009, 2010 and 2011.  No vested options may be exercised until January 2, 2011.  Shares acquired on exercise of the options
 may not be sold until the earlier of (1) one year from the date of exercise, or (2) a change of control of the Company.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David H. Stovall Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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