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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 10, 2008.</font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Registration
No. 333-__________</font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">UNITED
STATES</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">WASHINGTON, D.C.
20549</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">____________________</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">FORM S-8</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">REGISTRATION
STATEMENT</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">UNDER</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">____________________</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 24pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">STAGE STORES,
INC.</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div align="left">
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="50%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Nevada</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="50%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">91-1826900</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="50%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">(State
      or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="50%">
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      Employer Identification No.)</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="50%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="50%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="50%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">10201
      Main Street, Houston, Texas</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="50%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">77025</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="50%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">(Address
      of Principal Executive Offices)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="50%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">(Zip
      Code)</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">STAGE
STORES, INC. NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">(Full
Title of the Plan)</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div align="left">
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="50%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Edward
      J. Record</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Executive
      Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">10201
      Main Street,</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Houston,
      Texas 77025</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">(Name
      and Address of Agent For Service)</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">(800)
      579-2302</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">(Telephone
      Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service )</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="50%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Copies
      to:</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Philip
      B. Sears, Esq.</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">McAfee
      &amp; Taft, P.C.</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">211
      North Robinson</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Oklahoma
      City, OK 73102</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See
the definitions of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;accelerated filer&#8221; and &#8220;smaller
reporting company&#8221; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Large
accelerated filer <font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">&#254;
</font>Accelerated filer <font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">o
</font>Non-accelerated filer <font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">o </font>Smaller reporting
company <font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">o</font></font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">(Do
not check if a smaller reporting company)</font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Calculation of Registration
Fee</font></font><br></div>
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            <td valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
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            <td align="left" nowrap valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" nowrap valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" nowrap valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" nowrap valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">Title of Securities To Be
      Registered</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom" style="BORDER-LEFT: black 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Amount To Be</font> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Registered</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" nowrap valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" style="BORDER-LEFT: black 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Proposed Maximum</font> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Offering Price Per</font> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Share</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" nowrap valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" style="BORDER-LEFT: black 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Proposed Maximum</font> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Aggregate Offering</font> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Price</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" nowrap valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" style="BORDER-LEFT: black 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Amount of</font> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Registration
      Fee</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" nowrap valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="52%" style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">Deferred Compensation Obligations</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super">(1)</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-LEFT: black 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">$</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">40,000,000</font></font></td>
            <td align="left" nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-LEFT: black 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">100</font></font></td>
            <td align="left" nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">%</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-LEFT: black 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">$</font></td>
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            <td align="left" nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
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            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">$</font></td>
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            <td align="left" nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">&#160;&#160;</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-LEFT: black 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-LEFT: black 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-LEFT: black 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-LEFT: black 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">$</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">1,628.00</font></font></td>
            <td align="left" nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div>&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <hr style="MARGIN-TOP: -5px; COLOR: #000000" noshade size="1">
      <hr style="MARGIN-TOP: -13px; COLOR: #000000" noshade size="4">
    </div>
    <div>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">(1)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">The
      Deferred Compensation Obligations are unsecured obligations of Stage
      Stores, Inc. to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with
      the terms of the Stage Stores, Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
      Plan.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">(2)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Pursuant
      to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
      Registration Statement shall be deemed to cover such indeterminable number
      of additional shares as may be issued as a result of an adjustment in the
      shares in the event of a stock split, stock dividend, or similar capital
      adjustment</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">(3)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Estimated
      solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee pursuant to
      Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Pursuant to Rule
      457(h), this estimate is based upon the average of the high and low prices
      of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, on June 5, 2008, as
      reported on the New York Stock
Exchange.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">2</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><a name="toc">TABLE OF
CONTENTS</a></font></font></div>
    <div>&#160;</div>
    <div align="left">
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
          <tr>
            <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="top" width="100%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline"><a href="#part1">PART
  I</a></font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline"><a href="#item1">Item 1. Plan
      Information</a></font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline"><a href="#item2">Item 2. Registration Information
      and Employee Plan Annual Information</a></font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="top" width="100%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline"><a href="#part2">PART
  II</a></font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline"><a href="#item3">Item 3. Incorporation of
      Documents by Reference</a></font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline"><a href="#item4">Item 4. Description of
      Securities</a></font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline"><a href="#item5">Item 5. Interests of Named
      Experts and Counsel</a></font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline"><a href="#item6">Item 6. Indemnification of
      Directors and Officers</a></font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline"><a href="#item7">Item 7. Exemption from
      Registration Claimed</a></font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline"><a href="#item8">Item 8.
      Exhibits</a></font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline"><a href="#item9">Item 9.
      Undertakings</a></font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="top" width="100%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline"><a href="#signatures">SIGNATURES</a></font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="top" width="100%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline"><a href="#exindex">EXHIBIT
      INDEX</a></font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="top" width="100%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Stage
      Stores, Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="top" width="100%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Opinion
      of&#160;&#160;McAfee &amp; Taft A Professional
  Corporation</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="top" width="100%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Consent
      of Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div><br></div>
    <div>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="center">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">3</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="#toc">Table of Contents</a></font></div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><a name="part1">PART
I</a></font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION
10(a) PROSPECTUS</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><a name="item1">Item 1. </a>Plan
Information.*</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><a name="item2">Item 2</a>.
Registration Information and Employee Plan Annual
Information.*</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">*</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Information
      required by Part I of Form S-8 to be contained in a prospectus meeting the
      requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 is omitted
      from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the
      Securities Act of 1933 and the Note to Part I of Form
  S-8.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><a name="part2">PART
II</a></font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><a name="item3">Item 3.</a>
Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">The
following documents we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
&#8220;Commission&#8221;) (File No. 001-14035) are incorporated in and made a part of this
Registration Statement by reference:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36.45pt">
              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
            </td>
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">1.</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Our
      Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2008,
      filed on April 1, 2008;</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36.45pt">
              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
            </td>
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">2.</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Our
      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 3, 2008,
      filed on June 6, 2008; and</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36.45pt">
              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
            </td>
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">3.</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Our
      Current Reports on Form 8-K (excluding any information furnished under
      Items 2.02 or 7.01 thereof) filed February 5, 2008, February 8, 2008,
      March 3, 2008, March 4, 2008, March 7, 2008, March 11, 2008, March 13,
      2008, March 19, 2008,&#160;&#160;April 3, 2008, April 11, 2008, April 24,
      2008, May 9, 2008, May 19, 2008,&#160;&#160;May 23, 2008, May 30, 2008,
      June 5, 2008 and June 9, 2008.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">All
documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (excluding any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item
7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K) subsequent to the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing of those documents.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Any
statement contained in this Registration Statement or in a document incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall
be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration
Statement to the extent that a statement in this Registration Statement, or in
any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference, modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement
so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or
superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Item<a name="item4"> 4. </a>Description
of Securities.</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Deferred
Compensation Obligations</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">The
Deferred Compensation Obligations registered pursuant to this Registration
Statement (the &#8220;Obligations&#8221;) are unsecured general obligations of Stage Stores,
Inc. to pay the value of deferred compensation accounts in
accordance&#160;&#160;with the terms and conditions of the Stage Stores, Inc.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;).&#160;&#160;The following
brief description of the Obligations is qualified in its entirety by reference
to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 4.4 to this
Registration Statement and incorporated herein by reference.&#160;&#160;Unless
defined herein, capitalized terms shall have the meaning given them in the
Plan.</font></div>
    <div><br></div>
    <div>
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          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="#toc">Table of Contents</a></font></div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">The
Plan provides our executive officers, certain other officers and key employees
(a &#8220;Participant&#8221;) with the opportunity participate in a deferred compensation
program that is not qualified under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the &#8220;Code&#8221;).&#160;&#160;Generally the Code and the Employment
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, restrict contributions to a
401(k) plan by highly compensated employees.&#160;&#160;The Plan is intended to
allow Participants to defer income on a pre-tax basis.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">The
Plan is administered by a committee appointed by our Board of Directors (the
&#8220;Committee&#8221;). The Committee has the authority, subject to the provisions of the
Plan, to establish, adopt and revise such rules and regulations, to provide and
modify administrative forms, and to make all such determinations relating to the
Plan as it may deem necessary or appropriate for the administration of the
Plan.&#160;&#160;The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or
reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any agreement or document related to
the Plan in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or
appropriate to carry the Plan into effect.&#160;&#160;The Committee&#8217;s
interpretation of the Plan, and all decisions and determinations by the
Committee with respect to the Plan, will be final and binding on all
parties.&#160;&#160;The Committee may delegate any of its powers or
responsibilities to one or more members of the Committee or any other person or
entity.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">The
Committee establishes and maintains an Employee Account and an Employer Account
for each Participant.&#160;&#160;The Committee credits, as a bookkeeping entry,
the amount of each Employee Contribution made on behalf of a Participant to that
Participant&#8217;s Employee Account as soon as administratively feasible following
the applicable deferral.&#160;&#160;The Committee credits, as a bookkeeping
entry, the amount of each Employer Contribution made on behalf of a Participant
to that Participant&#8217;s Employer Account at such times as determined by the
Committee.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">The
Committee has the authority to determine investment options available for
selection by Participants. Each Participant currently has the opportunity to
allocate the investment of the funds in his or her Participant Employee Account
among fourteen investment options, including our common stock (the &#8220;Company
Stock Investment Option&#8221;).&#160;&#160;In the case of the Company Stock
Investment Option, the Plan provides the opportunity for increased pre-tax
shareholding.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Under
the Plan, Participants may defer up to 50% of their base salary and up to 100%
of their bonus and earn a rate of return based on actual investments chosen by
each participant.&#160;&#160;We have established a grantor trust for the
purposes of holding assets to provide benefits to the Participants and, in the
case of the Company Stock Investment Option, to facilitate the collection of
funds and the purchase of our common stock on the open market at prevailing
market rates.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">We
will match 100% of each Participant&#8217;s contributions, up to 10% of the sum of the
Participant&#8217;s base salary and bonus.&#160;&#160;We may, in our sole discretion,
make additional contributions in any amount with respect to any Participant as
we determine in our sole discretion. Contributions made by a Participant and
matching contributions we make are 100% vested at the time they are
made.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">With
the exception of the Company Stock Investment Option, Participants may
reallocate their account balances among the available investment options on a
daily basis.&#160;&#160;With respect to the Company Stock Investment Option,
once our common stock has been credited to a Participant&#8217;s Employee Account or a
Participant&#8217;s Employer Account, as the case may be, it may not be transferred or
liquidated by the Participant and must remain in the Participant&#8217;s Employee
Account or the Participant&#8217;s Employer Account, as the case may be, until such
date as the Participant is no longer our employee and for a period of six (6)
months thereafter, at which time the common stock will be transferred to the
Participant&#8217;s personal brokerage account, as designated at that time by the
Participant.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Except
for debts owed us by a Participant or a beneficiary of a Participant, no amounts
payable or to become payable under the Plan to a Participant or a beneficiary of
a Participant shall be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, assignment,
pledge, encumbrance or charge, whether voluntary, involuntary, by operation of
law or otherwise, and any attempt to sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or
charge the same by a Participant or a beneficiary of a Participant prior to
distribution as provided in the Plan will be null and void.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Unless
distributed under a hardship distribution, we will distribute a Participant&#8217;s
Vested Account in the manner set forth in the Plan upon the earlier to occur of
the following events: (i) Separation from Service; (ii) Disability; (iii) death
or (iv) Change in Control.&#160;&#160;A Participant&#8217;s Vested Account will be
debited in the amount of any distribution made therefrom as of the date of the
distribution<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">.</font></font></div>
    <div><br></div>
    <div>
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        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="#toc">Table of Contents</a></font></div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Description
of Common Stock</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">In
addition to the deferred compensation obligations which are being registered
pursuant to this Registration Statement, this Registration statement also
registers the shares of our common stock that may be issued under the Plan in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.&#160;&#160;Our common
stock has been registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Item <a name="item5">5. Interests
</a>of Named Experts and Counsel.</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Not
applicable.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><a name="item6">Item 6. Indemnification
</a>of Directors and Officers.</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Nevada
Revised Statures</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Section
78.7502 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (the &#8220;NRS&#8221;) provides that a corporation
may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a
party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except an action by or
in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at
the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses, including attorneys&#8217; fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the
action, suit or proceeding if he is not adjudged liable to the corporation, if
he acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, if he had no reasonable cause to believe his
conduct was unlawful. Section 78.7502 further provides that a corporation
similarly may indemnify any such person serving in any such capacity who was or
is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a
judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the
request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against
expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys&#8217; fees actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of the
action or suit if he is not adjudged liable to the corporation, and if he acted
in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the corporation.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Amended
and Restated Bylaws</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">As
permitted by the NRS, Article 5 of our Amended and Restated Bylaws provides that
so long as he is not adjudged liable to us we will indemnify any individual made
a party to a proceeding because the individual is or was a director or officer
against liability and expenses incurred in the proceeding, but only if the
individual demonstrates that (a) he or she conducted himself or herself in good
faith, and (b) he or she reasonably believed (i) in the case of conduct in his
or her official capacity with us, that his or her conduct was in our best
interests, (ii) in all other cases, that his or her conduct was at least not
opposed to our best interests, and (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding,
he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was
unlawful.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Insurance</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">We
have purchased director and officer liability insurance which insures us for
amounts which we are required or permitted to pay as indemnification of
directors and certain officers and which insures directors and certain officers
against certain liabilities which might be incurred by them in those capacities
and for which they are not entitled to indemnification by us.</font></div>
    <div><br></div>
    <div>
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          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">6</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="#toc">Table of Contents</a></font></div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Item 7<a name="item7">. Exemption
</a>from Registration Claimed.</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Not
applicable.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Item <a name="item8">8.
Exhibits</a>.</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">The
Exhibits to this Registration Statement are listed in the Exhibit Index of this
Registration Statement, which index is incorporated herein by
reference.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Item<a name="item9"> 9.
Undertakings</a>.</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">(a)
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">1.
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">(i)
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities
Act;</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">(ii)
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective
date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in the
volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate
offering price set forth in the &#8220;Calculation of Registration Fee&#8221; table in this
Registration Statement; and</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">(iii)
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to
such information in this Registration Statement;</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-STYLE: italic">provided, however</font>, that the
undertakings set forth in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply
if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">2.
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-STYLE: italic">bona fide</font> offering
thereof.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">3.
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">(b)
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant&#8217;s
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan&#8217;s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-STYLE: italic">bona fide</font>
offering thereof.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">(c)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of
1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.</font></div>
    <div><br></div>
    <div>
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          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">7</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="#toc">Table of Contents</a></font></div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><a name="signatures">SIGNATURE</a>S</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 45pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that
it has reasonable grounds to believe it meets all of the requirements for filing
on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston,
State of Texas, on this 10th day of June, 2008.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
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      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
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            <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="top" width="100%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">STAGE
      STORES, INC.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="97%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="3%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">By:</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">/s/ James R.
      Scarborough</font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">James
      R. Scarborough</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Chief
      Executive Officer</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">(Principal
      Executive Officer)</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="97%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="top" width="100%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">STAGE
      STORES, INC.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="97%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="3%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">By:</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">/s/ Edward J.
      Record</font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Edward
      J. Record</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Executive
      Vice President and Chief Financial</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Officer</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">(Principal
      Financial Officer)</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="97%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="top" width="100%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">STAGE
      STORES, INC.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="97%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="3%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">By:</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">/s/ Richard E.
      Stasyszen</font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Richard
      E. Stasyszen</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Senior
      Vice President, Finance and Controller</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="97%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">(Principal
      Accounting Officer)</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement
has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date
indicated.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div align="left">
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="20%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">*</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="12%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Director</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="12%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">June
      10, 2008</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="20%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
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            <td align="left" valign="top" width="20%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">David
      Y. Schwartz</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="12%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="12%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="20%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="12%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="12%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="20%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="12%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="12%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="20%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">*</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="12%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Director</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="12%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">June
      10, 2008</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="20%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="12%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="12%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="20%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Margaret
      T. Monaco</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="12%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="12%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="20%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="12%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="12%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div align="left">
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="50%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" colspan="3" valign="top" width="50%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">(Constituting
      a majority of the Board of Directors)</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="50%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="25%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="22%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="50%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="25%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="3%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">*By:&#160;
      </font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="22%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">/s/
      Edward J. Record</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="50%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="25%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="22%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Edward
      J. Record</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="50%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="25%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="3%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="22%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Attorney-in-Fact</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div><br></div>
    <div>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="center">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">8</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="#toc">Table of Contents</a></font></div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><a name="exindex">EXHIBI</a>T INDEX</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div align="left">
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="10%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">Exhibit Number</font></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="88%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">Description of Exhibit</font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="10%" style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">4.1</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="88%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Amended
      and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Stage Stores, Inc. dated June 7,
      2007 are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Stage Stores&#8217;
      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (Commission File No. 1-14035) filed
      September 12, 2007.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr bgcolor="white">
            <td valign="top" width="10%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="88%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="10%" style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">4.2</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="88%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Amended
      and Restated Bylaws of Stage Stores, Inc. dated March 28, 2007 are
      incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of Stage Stores&#8217; Annual Report on
      Form 10-K (Commission File No, 1-14035) filed April 3,
    2007.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr bgcolor="white">
            <td valign="top" width="10%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="88%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="10%" style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">4.3</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="88%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Form
      of Common Stock Certificate of Stage Stores, Inc. is incorporated by
      reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Stage Stores&#8217; Registration Statement on Form
      10 (Commission File No. 000-21011) filed October 29,
  2001.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr bgcolor="white">
            <td valign="top" width="10%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="88%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="10%" style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">4.4*</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="88%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Stage
      Stores, Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr bgcolor="white">
            <td valign="top" width="10%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="88%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="10%" style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">5.1*</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="88%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Opinion
      of McAfee &amp; Taft A Professional Corporation</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr bgcolor="white">
            <td valign="top" width="10%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="88%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="10%" style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">23.1*</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="88%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Consent
      of Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr bgcolor="white">
            <td valign="top" width="10%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="88%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="10%" style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">23.2*</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="88%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Consent
      of McAfee &amp; Taft A Professional Corporation (included as part of
      Exhibit 5.1)</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr bgcolor="white">
            <td valign="top" width="10%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
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[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "forms8_defcomp.htm", "secsgml_size_bytes": 142451}, {"type": "S-8", "sequence": "6", "filename": "forms8_defcomp.pdf", "secsgml_size_bytes": 59574}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "STAGE STORES INC", "cik": "0000006885", "assigned-sic": "5651", "irs-number": "911826900", "state-of-incorporation": "NV", "fiscal-year-end": "0131"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-151566", "film-number": "08891460"}, "business-address": {"street1": "10201 MAIN ST", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77025", "phone": "7136675601"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "10201 MAIN STREET", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77025"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "APPAREL RETAILERS INC", "date-changed": "19930908"}, {"former-conformed-name": "TEXTILE DISTRIBUTORS INC", "date-changed": "19690521"}]}
As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 10, 2008.
Registration
No. 333-__________
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.
20549
____________________
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933
____________________
STAGE STORES,
INC.
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Nevada
91-1826900
(State
      or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S.
      Employer Identification No.)
10201
      Main Street, Houston, Texas
77025
(Address
      of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip
      Code)
STAGE
STORES, INC. NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
(Full
Title of the Plan)
Edward
      J. Record
Executive
      Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
10201
      Main Street,
Houston,
      Texas 77025
(Name
      and Address of Agent For Service)
(800)
      579-2302
(Telephone
      Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service )
Copies
      to:
Philip
      B. Sears, Esq.
McAfee
      & Taft, P.C.
211
      North Robinson
Oklahoma
      City, OK 73102
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See
the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller
reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large
accelerated filer
þ
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
Smaller reporting
company
o
(Do
not check if a smaller reporting company)
Calculation of Registration
Fee
Title of Securities To Be
      Registered
Amount To Be
Registered
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per
Share
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price
Amount of
Registration
      Fee
Deferred Compensation Obligations
(1)
$
40,000,000
100
%
$
40,000,000
$
1,572.00
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
      share
100,000
(2)
$
14.17
(3)
$
1,417,000
(3)
$
56.00
$
1,628.00
(1)
The
      Deferred Compensation Obligations are unsecured obligations of Stage
      Stores, Inc. to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with
      the terms of the Stage Stores, Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
      Plan.
(2)
Pursuant
      to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
      Registration Statement shall be deemed to cover such indeterminable number
      of additional shares as may be issued as a result of an adjustment in the
      shares in the event of a stock split, stock dividend, or similar capital
      adjustment
(3)
Estimated
      solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee pursuant to
      Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Pursuant to Rule
      457(h), this estimate is based upon the average of the high and low prices
      of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, on June 5, 2008, as
      reported on the New York Stock
Exchange.
2
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
PART
  I
Item 1. Plan
      Information
Item 2. Registration Information
      and Employee Plan Annual Information
PART
  II
Item 3. Incorporation of
      Documents by Reference
Item 4. Description of
      Securities
Item 5. Interests of Named
      Experts and Counsel
Item 6. Indemnification of
      Directors and Officers
Item 7. Exemption from
      Registration Claimed
Item 8.
      Exhibits
Item 9.
      Undertakings
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT
      INDEX
Stage
      Stores, Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan
Opinion
      of  McAfee & Taft A Professional
  Corporation
Consent
      of Deloitte & Touche LLP
3
Table of Contents
PART
I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION
10(a) PROSPECTUS
Item 1.
Plan
Information.*
Item 2
.
Registration Information and Employee Plan Annual
Information.*
*
Information
      required by Part I of Form S-8 to be contained in a prospectus meeting the
      requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 is omitted
      from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the
      Securities Act of 1933 and the Note to Part I of Form
  S-8.
PART
II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3.
Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The
following documents we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") (File No. 001-14035) are incorporated in and made a part of this
Registration Statement by reference:
1.
Our
      Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2008,
      filed on April 1, 2008;
2.
Our
      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 3, 2008,
      filed on June 6, 2008; and
3.
Our
      Current Reports on Form 8-K (excluding any information furnished under
      Items 2.02 or 7.01 thereof) filed February 5, 2008, February 8, 2008,
      March 3, 2008, March 4, 2008, March 7, 2008, March 11, 2008, March 13,
      2008, March 19, 2008,  April 3, 2008, April 11, 2008, April 24,
      2008, May 9, 2008, May 19, 2008,  May 23, 2008, May 30, 2008,
      June 5, 2008 and June 9, 2008.
All
documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (excluding any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item
7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K) subsequent to the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing of those documents.
Any
statement contained in this Registration Statement or in a document incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall
be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration
Statement to the extent that a statement in this Registration Statement, or in
any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference, modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement
so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or
superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item
4.
Description
of Securities.
Deferred
Compensation Obligations
The
Deferred Compensation Obligations registered pursuant to this Registration
Statement (the "Obligations") are unsecured general obligations of Stage Stores,
Inc. to pay the value of deferred compensation accounts in
accordance  with the terms and conditions of the Stage Stores, Inc.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan").  The following
brief description of the Obligations is qualified in its entirety by reference
to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 4.4 to this
Registration Statement and incorporated herein by reference.  Unless
defined herein, capitalized terms shall have the meaning given them in the
Plan.
4
Table of Contents
The
Plan provides our executive officers, certain other officers and key employees
(a "Participant") with the opportunity participate in a deferred compensation
program that is not qualified under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code").  Generally the Code and the Employment
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, restrict contributions to a
401(k) plan by highly compensated employees.  The Plan is intended to
allow Participants to defer income on a pre-tax basis.
The
Plan is administered by a committee appointed by our Board of Directors (the
"Committee"). The Committee has the authority, subject to the provisions of the
Plan, to establish, adopt and revise such rules and regulations, to provide and
modify administrative forms, and to make all such determinations relating to the
Plan as it may deem necessary or appropriate for the administration of the
Plan.  The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or
reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any agreement or document related to
the Plan in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or
appropriate to carry the Plan into effect.  The Committee's
interpretation of the Plan, and all decisions and determinations by the
Committee with respect to the Plan, will be final and binding on all
parties.  The Committee may delegate any of its powers or
responsibilities to one or more members of the Committee or any other person or
entity.
The
Committee establishes and maintains an Employee Account and an Employer Account
for each Participant.  The Committee credits, as a bookkeeping entry,
the amount of each Employee Contribution made on behalf of a Participant to that
Participant's Employee Account as soon as administratively feasible following
the applicable deferral.  The Committee credits, as a bookkeeping
entry, the amount of each Employer Contribution made on behalf of a Participant
to that Participant's Employer Account at such times as determined by the
Committee.
The
Committee has the authority to determine investment options available for
selection by Participants. Each Participant currently has the opportunity to
allocate the investment of the funds in his or her Participant Employee Account
among fourteen investment options, including our common stock (the "Company
Stock Investment Option").  In the case of the Company Stock
Investment Option, the Plan provides the opportunity for increased pre-tax
shareholding.
Under
the Plan, Participants may defer up to 50% of their base salary and up to 100%
of their bonus and earn a rate of return based on actual investments chosen by
each participant.  We have established a grantor trust for the
purposes of holding assets to provide benefits to the Participants and, in the
case of the Company Stock Investment Option, to facilitate the collection of
funds and the purchase of our common stock on the open market at prevailing
market rates.
We
will match 100% of each Participant's contributions, up to 10% of the sum of the
Participant's base salary and bonus.  We may, in our sole discretion,
make additional contributions in any amount with respect to any Participant as
we determine in our sole discretion. Contributions made by a Participant and
matching contributions we make are 100% vested at the time they are
made.
With
the exception of the Company Stock Investment Option, Participants may
reallocate their account balances among the available investment options on a
daily basis.  With respect to the Company Stock Investment Option,
once our common stock has been credited to a Participant's Employee Account or a
Participant's Employer Account, as the case may be, it may not be transferred or
liquidated by the Participant and must remain in the Participant's Employee
Account or the Participant's Employer Account, as the case may be, until such
date as the Participant is no longer our employee and for a period of six (6)
months thereafter, at which time the common stock will be transferred to the
Participant's personal brokerage account, as designated at that time by the
Participant.
Except
for debts owed us by a Participant or a beneficiary of a Participant, no amounts
payable or to become payable under the Plan to a Participant or a beneficiary of
a Participant shall be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, assignment,
pledge, encumbrance or charge, whether voluntary, involuntary, by operation of
law or otherwise, and any attempt to sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or
charge the same by a Participant or a beneficiary of a Participant prior to
distribution as provided in the Plan will be null and void.
Unless
distributed under a hardship distribution, we will distribute a Participant's
Vested Account in the manner set forth in the Plan upon the earlier to occur of
the following events: (i) Separation from Service; (ii) Disability; (iii) death
or (iv) Change in Control.  A Participant's Vested Account will be
debited in the amount of any distribution made therefrom as of the date of the
distribution
.
5
Table of Contents
Description
of Common Stock
In
addition to the deferred compensation obligations which are being registered
pursuant to this Registration Statement, this Registration statement also
registers the shares of our common stock that may be issued under the Plan in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.  Our common
stock has been registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
Item
5. Interests
of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not
applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification
of Directors and Officers.
Nevada
Revised Statures
Section
78.7502 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (the "NRS") provides that a corporation
may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a
party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except an action by or
in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at
the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses, including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the
action, suit or proceeding if he is not adjudged liable to the corporation, if
he acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, if he had no reasonable cause to believe his
conduct was unlawful. Section 78.7502 further provides that a corporation
similarly may indemnify any such person serving in any such capacity who was or
is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a
judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the
request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against
expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys' fees actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of the
action or suit if he is not adjudged liable to the corporation, and if he acted
in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the corporation.
Amended
and Restated Bylaws
As
permitted by the NRS, Article 5 of our Amended and Restated Bylaws provides that
so long as he is not adjudged liable to us we will indemnify any individual made
a party to a proceeding because the individual is or was a director or officer
against liability and expenses incurred in the proceeding, but only if the
individual demonstrates that (a) he or she conducted himself or herself in good
faith, and (b) he or she reasonably believed (i) in the case of conduct in his
or her official capacity with us, that his or her conduct was in our best
interests, (ii) in all other cases, that his or her conduct was at least not
opposed to our best interests, and (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding,
he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was
unlawful.
Insurance
We
have purchased director and officer liability insurance which insures us for
amounts which we are required or permitted to pay as indemnification of
directors and certain officers and which insures directors and certain officers
against certain liabilities which might be incurred by them in those capacities
and for which they are not entitled to indemnification by us.
6
Table of Contents
Item 7
. Exemption
from Registration Claimed.
Not
applicable.
Item
8.
Exhibits
.
The
Exhibits to this Registration Statement are listed in the Exhibit Index of this
Registration Statement, which index is incorporated herein by
reference.
Item
9.
Undertakings
.
(a)
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
1.
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i)
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities
Act;
(ii)
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective
date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in the
volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate
offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in this
Registration Statement; and
(iii)
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to
such information in this Registration Statement;
provided, however
, that the
undertakings set forth in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply
if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement.
2.
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering
thereof.
3.
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
(b)
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
(c)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of
1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
7
Table of Contents
SIGNATURE
S
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that
it has reasonable grounds to believe it meets all of the requirements for filing
on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston,
State of Texas, on this 10th day of June, 2008.
STAGE
      STORES, INC.
By:
/s/ James R.
      Scarborough
James
      R. Scarborough
Chief
      Executive Officer
(Principal
      Executive Officer)
STAGE
      STORES, INC.
By:
/s/ Edward J.
      Record
Edward
      J. Record
Executive
      Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
(Principal
      Financial Officer)
STAGE
      STORES, INC.
By:
/s/ Richard E.
      Stasyszen
Richard
      E. Stasyszen
Senior
      Vice President, Finance and Controller
(Principal
      Accounting Officer)
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement
has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date
indicated.
*
Director
June
      10, 2008
*
Director
June
      10, 2008
Alan
      J. Barocas
William
      J. Montgoris
*
Director
June
      10, 2008
*
Director
June
      10, 2008
Michael
      L. Glazer
Sharon
      B. Mosse
/s/ Andrew T. Hall
Director
June
      10, 2008
/s/ James R. Scarborough
Director
June
      10, 2008
Andrew
      T. Hall
James
      R. Scarborough
*
Director
June
      10, 2008
*
Director
June
      10, 2008
John
      T. Mentzer
David
      Y. Schwartz
*
Director
June
      10, 2008
Margaret
      T. Monaco
(Constituting
      a majority of the Board of Directors)
*By:
/s/
      Edward J. Record
Edward
      J. Record
Attorney-in-Fact
8
Table of Contents
EXHIBI
T INDEX
Exhibit Number
Description of Exhibit
4.1
Amended
      and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Stage Stores, Inc. dated June 7,
      2007 are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Stage Stores'
      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (Commission File No. 1-14035) filed
      September 12, 2007.
4.2
Amended
      and Restated Bylaws of Stage Stores, Inc. dated March 28, 2007 are
      incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of Stage Stores' Annual Report on
      Form 10-K (Commission File No, 1-14035) filed April 3,
    2007.
4.3
Form
      of Common Stock Certificate of Stage Stores, Inc. is incorporated by
      reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Stage Stores' Registration Statement on Form
      10 (Commission File No. 000-21011) filed October 29,
  2001.
4.4*
Stage
      Stores, Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan
5.1*
Opinion
      of McAfee & Taft A Professional Corporation
23.1*
Consent
      of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.2*
Consent
      of McAfee & Taft A Professional Corporation (included as part of
      Exhibit 5.1)
24.1*
Power
      of Attorney
*   Filed
herewith.
9