STAGE STORES PROVIDES HURRICANE RITA UPDATE

Stage Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:STGS) today provided an
update on the number of stores still closed as a result of Hurricane
Rita.
   The Company reported that, as of today, all but fourteen of its
affected stores had reopened for business. Of the stores that are
still closed, the Company anticipates that nine will reopen in the
near future as power is restored in their respective areas. The
Company stated that the remaining five closed stores will require
further assessment to determine their reopening timing and status. The
Company noted that its next Hurricane Rita update would be provided
next Thursday in conjunction with the release of its September sales
results.

   About Stage Stores

   Stage Stores, Inc. brings nationally recognized brand name
apparel, accessories, cosmetics and footwear for the entire family to
small and mid-size towns and communities through 543 stores located in
30 states. The Company operates under the Stage, Bealls and Palais
Royal names throughout the South Central states, and under the Peebles
name throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeastern and Midwestern states.
For more information about Stage Stores, visit the Company's web site
at www.stagestoresinc.com.

   "Safe Harbor" Statement

   This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
including comments regarding the Company's expectations that nine of
its currently closed stores will reopen in the near future. The
Company intends forward looking terminology such as "believes,"
"expects," "may," "will," "should," "could," "anticipates," "plans" or
similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such
statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which could
cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 28, 2005, in the Company's
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC and other factors
as may periodically be described in other Company filings with the
SEC.