The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. Announces December Sales; Bon-Ton Comparable

    Business Editors/Fashion Writers

    YORK, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2005--The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:BONT) today announced Bon-Ton comparable store sales increased 6.6%. Total sales for the five weeks ended January 1, 2005 increased 1.9% to $257.8 million compared to $253.1 million for the same period last year.
    Year-to-date Bon-Ton comparable store sales increased 0.6%. Total sales increased 43.6% to $1,248.1 million, including $577.4 million from the acquired Elder-Beerman stores, compared to $869.0 million for the same period last year, which included Elder-Beerman stores sales of $203.1 million.
    Elder-Beerman sales are not included in the Company's reported comparable store sales and the following comparable store sales are provided for informational purposes only. Elder-Beerman comparable store sales for the five weeks ended January 1, 2005 decreased 2.2% and year-to-date comparable store sales decreased 3.0%. For Elder-Beerman and Bon-Ton combined, comparable store sales for the five weeks ended January 1, 2005 increased 2.4% and year-to-date comparable store sales decreased 1.1%.
    James H. Baireuther, Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer, commented, "We were pleased with the sales results for December, which reflect strong selling activity in the weeks before and after Christmas. Elder-Beerman stores in Indiana, mid-Ohio and Kentucky were adversely impacted by a major snowstorm which began December 22, closing some stores until the afternoon of December 24. Overall, strongest sales were reported in fashion accessories, misses sportswear including special sizes, small electrics, luggage, shoes, men's sportswear and children's. As we transition into our spring assortment, we will maintain our focus on clearing fall and holiday merchandise."
    The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. operates 141 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. 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.

--30--JM/ph*

CONTACT: The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. Mary Kerr Vice President Corporate Communications 717-751-3071

KEYWORD: PENNSYLVANIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING CONSUMER/HOUSEHOLD APPAREL/TEXTILES RETAIL EARNINGS SOURCE: The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.

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