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  <p  align=right><font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><b>As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 25, 2004<br> Registration No.&nbsp;333-________</b></font></p>
  
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  <font size="5" face="Times New Roman"><b>UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<br> </b></font>
  <font size="3"><b>Washington, D.C. 20549</b></font></p>
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  <font size="5" face="Times New Roman"><b>FORM S-8</b></font></p>
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  <font size="5" face="Times New Roman"><b>REGISTRATION STATEMENT</b><br></font>
  <font size="5"><b>UNDER</b><br></font>
  <font size="5"><b>THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</b></font></p>
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  <font size="6" face="Times New Roman"><b>Ross Stores, Inc.</b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><b>Delaware</b></font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><b>94-1390387</b></font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>(State or   other jurisdiction of incorporation or other organization)</b></font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>I.R.S.   Employer Identification No.)</b></font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><b>8333   Central Avenue</b></p> </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><b>Newark, CA&#160; 94560-3433</b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>(Address   principal executive offices) (Zip code)</b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="6" face="Times New Roman"><b>Ross   Stores, Inc.</b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="3"><b>2004 Equity Incentive Plan</b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>(Full   title of the Plan)</b></font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><b>Mark S. Askanas</b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><b>General Counsel and Senior Vice   President,</b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><b>Human Resources</b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><b>Ross Stores, Inc.</b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><b>8333 Central Avenue</b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><b>Newark, CA&#160; 94560-3433</b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>(Name and address of agent for   service)</b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service: (510) 505-4415.</font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">This registration statement shall hereafter become effective in accordance with Rule&nbsp;462 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;).</font></p>
  
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">CALCULATION OF   REGISTRATION FEE</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>Title of Securities to<br>   be registered<sup>1</sup></b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>Amount to   be<br>   registered<sup>2</sup></b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>Proposed<br>   maximum<br>   offering<br>   price per<br>   share<sup>3</sup></b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>Proposed<br>   maximum<br>   aggregate<br>   offering price</b></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>Amount of<br>   registration<br>   fee</b></font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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    <td width="34%" valign="bottom" >
    <p style="margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><u>2004 Equity Incentive Plan</u></font></p>  </td>
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    <p style="margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
    <td width="12%" valign="bottom" >
    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" >
    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" >
    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
    <td width="12%" valign="bottom" >
    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" >
    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
    <td width="12%" valign="bottom" >
    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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    <p style="margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&#160;Common Stock   Par Value $0.01</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">18,500,000</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">$</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">24.34</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">$</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">450,290,000.00</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">$</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">57,051.74</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Registration fee offset<sup>4</sup></font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">-$</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">10,784.81</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p style="margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">TOTAL</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align=right><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align=right><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">$</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">46,266.93</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><sup>1</sup> The securities to be registered include options and purchase rights, as the case may be, to acquire such Common Stock.</font></p>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><sup>2</sup> Pursuant to Rule 416(a), this registration statement also covers any additional securities that may be offered or issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction.</font></p>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><sup>3</sup> The offering price is estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.&#160; As to the shares available for grant under the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, the price is based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock on May 20, 2004 as reported on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System.</font></p>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><sup>4</sup></font>
  <font size="2" color=black> Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, the registration fee is offset by registration fees previously paid by the registrant with respect to unsold shares of common stock registered under Registration Statement No. 333-34988 on Form S-8 filed on April 18, 2000 which registration fee of $10,784.81 were paid with respect to 3,500,000 unsold shares.&#160; The registrant has deregistered such shares by post-effective amendment. </font>
  <font size="2" color=black>The unsold shares are shares that remained available for grant under the Ross Stores, Inc. 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (the &#147;2000 Plan&#148;) upon its termination.&#160; The registrant adopted, effective May 20, 2004, the Ross Stores, Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan which replaces the 2000 Plan.</font></p>
  
  
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  <p  align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">PART II</font></p>
  <p  align="center">
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><u>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</u></font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><u>Item 3</u>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Incorporation of Documents by Reference</u></font></p>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ross Stores, Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) hereby incorporates by reference in this registration statement the following documents:</font></p>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company&#146;s latest annual report on Form 10-K filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;), containing audited financial statements for the Company&#146;s latest fiscal year ended January 31, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2004.</font></p>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All other reports filed pursuant to Section&nbsp;13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the registrant document referred to in (a) above.</font></p>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The description of the Company&#146;s Common Stock contained in the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;8-A filed under the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.</font></p>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities 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 such documents.</font></p>
  
  <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><u>Item 4</u>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Description of Securities</u></font></p>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Inapplicable.</font></p>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><u>Item 5</u>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Interests of Named Experts and Counsel</u></font></p>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Inapplicable.</font></p>
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  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><u>Item 6</u>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Indemnification of Directors and Officers</u></font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section 102(b) of the Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes a corporation to provide in its Certificate of Incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to a corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach or alleged breach of the director&#146;s &#147;duty of care.&#148;&#160; While this statute does not change the directors&#146; duty of care, it enables corporations to limit available relief to equitable remedies such as injunction or rescission.&#160; The statute has no effect on a director&#146;s duty of loyalty or liability for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or knowing violations of law, illegal payment of dividends or stock redemptions or repurchases, or for any transaction from which the director derives an
  improper personal benefit.&#160; As permitted by the statute, the Company has adopted provisions in its Certificate of Incorporation which eliminate to the fullest extent permissible under </font></p>
  
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  <PAGE>
  <br>
  
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Delaware law the personal liability of its directors to the Company and its stockholders for monetary damages for breach or alleged breach of their duty of care.</font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides for the indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents of a corporation.&#160; The Bylaws of the Company provide for indemnification of its directors, officers, employees and agents to the full extent permitted by Delaware law, including those circumstances in which indemnification would otherwise be discretionary under Delaware law.&#160; The Company&#146;s Bylaws also empower it to enter into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers and to purchase insurance on behalf of any person whom it is required or permitted to indemnify.&#160; The Company has entered into agreements with its directors and certain of its executive officers that require the Company to indemnify such persons to the fullest extent
  permitted under Delaware law against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred (including expenses of a derivative action) in connection with any proceeding, whether actual or threatened, to which any such person may be made a party by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or an executive officer of the Company or any of its affiliated enterprises.&#160; The indemnification agreements also set forth certain procedures that will apply in the event of a claim for indemnification thereunder.</font></p>
  
  <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides for indemnification in terms sufficiently broad to indemnify such individuals, under certain circumstances, for liabilities (including reimbursement of expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;).</font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><u>Item 7</u>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Exemption From Registration Claimed</u></font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Inapplicable.</font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><u>Item 8</u>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Exhibits</u></font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;See Exhibit Index.</font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><u>Item 9</u>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Undertakings</u></font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:</font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:</font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;</font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the 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 the registration statement;</font></p>
  
  
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  <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;</font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><u>provided, however</u>, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(l)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.</font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section&nbsp;13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</font></p>
  
  <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act 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 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.&#160; 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.</font></p>
  
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  <p  align="center">
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><u>SIGNATURE</u></font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form&nbsp;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 Newark, State of California, on May 24, 2004.</font></p>
  
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">R<small>OSS</small> S<small>TORES</small>, I<small>NC</small>.</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p>
  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">By:</font></p>  </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="bottom">
    <p  align="center">
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">/s/ M<small>ARK </small>S. A<small>SKANAS</small></font></p>  </td>
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    <p>
  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p>
  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <hr size="1" width="100%" noshade color=black>
  
  
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  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p>
  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p  align="center">
  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>Mark S.   Askanas<br>   General Counsel and Senior Vice<br>   President, Human Resources</b></font></p>  </td>
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  </table>
  
  
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  <PAGE>
  <br>
  
  <p  align="center">
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><u>POWER OF ATTORNEY</u></font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The officers and directors of Ross Stores, Inc. whose signatures appear below, hereby constitute and appoint Michael Balmuth and John G. Call, and each of them, their true and lawful attorneys and agents, with full power of substitution, each with power to act alone, to sign and execute on behalf of the undersigned any amendment or amendments to this registration statement on Form&nbsp;S-8, and each of the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that each of said attorney and agent, or their or his substitutes, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.&#160; Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 24, 2004.</font></p>
  
  
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    <p  align="center"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>Signature</b></font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>Title</b></font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">/s/ M<small>ICHAEL   </small>B<small>ALMUTH</small></font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Vice   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Director</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>Michael   Balmuth</b></font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">/s/ J<small>OHN</small> G.   C<small>ALL</small></font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  rowspan="2"  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Senior Vice   President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>John G.   Call</b></font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">/s/ N<small>ORMAN</small> A.   F<small>ERBER</small></font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Chairman of   the Board, Director</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>Norman A.   Ferber</b></font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">/s/ K. G<small>UNNAR</small>   B<small>JORKLUND</small></font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Director</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>K. Gunnar   Bjorklund</b></font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Director</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>Michael J.   Bush</b></font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Director</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>Sharon   Garrett</b></font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">/s/ S<small>TUART</small> G.   M<small>OLDAW</small></font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Chairman   Emeritus and Director</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>Stuart G.   Moldaw</b></font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
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    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Director</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <hr size="1" width="100%" noshade color=black>
  
  
    </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p  align="center"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>G. Orban</b></font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p  align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">/s/ J<small>AMES</small> C.   P<small>ETERS</small></font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Director,   President and Chief Operating Officer</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <hr size="1" width="100%" noshade color=black>
  
  
    </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p  align="center"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>James C.   Peters</b></font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p  align="center"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p  align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">/s/ D<small>ONALD</small> H.   S<small>EILER</small></font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Director</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <hr size="1" width="100%" noshade color=black>
  
  
    </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p  align="center"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><b>Donald H.   Seiler</b></font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  
  <p  align="center">
  <font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div style="page-break-before:always"></div>
  <PAGE>
  <br>
  
  <p  align="center">
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><u>EXHIBIT INDEX</u></font></p>
  <table align="center"  border="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" cellspacing="0"  cellpadding="0"  width="100%">
  
   <tr>
    <td width="6%" valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">3.1</font></p>  </td>
    <td width="93%" valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Corrected First Restated Certificate of   Incorporation dated and filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on March   17, 1999, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company&#146;s Form   10-K filed for its fiscal year ended January 30, 1999 as filed with the   Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 1999 (No. 000-14678).</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">3.2</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Amended Bylaws, dated August 25, 1994, is   incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Company&#146;s Form 10-Q filed for its   quarter ended July 10, 1994 as filed with the Securities and Exchange   Commission on September 13, 1994 (No. 000-14678).</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">5</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Opinion of Legality</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">23.1</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5)</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">23.2</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Consent of Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP, Independent   Auditors</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">24</font></p>  </td>
    <td  valign="top">
    <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Power of Attorney (included in signature pages to   this registration statement)</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  
  <div style="page-break-before:always"></div>
  <PAGE>
  <br>
  
  <p  align=right><font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><u>EXHIBIT 5</u></font></p>
  
  <table align="center"  border="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" cellspacing="0"  cellpadding="0"  width="100%">
  
   <tr>
    <td  colspan="3"  valign="top">
    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">[LETTERHEAD   OF GRAY CARY WARE&nbsp;&amp; FREIDENRICH&nbsp;LLP]</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  colspan="3"  valign="top">
    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">2000   University Avenue, East Palo Alto, CA 94303-2248</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="35%" valign="top">
    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Phone:&#160; 650-833-2000</font></p>  </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top">
    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Fax:&#160; 650-833-2001</font></p>  </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top">
    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">www.graycary.com</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">May 24, 2004</font></p>
  
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Securities and Exchange Commission<br> 450 Fifth Street, N.W.<br> Washington, D.C.&#160; 20549</font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Ladies and Gentlemen:</font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As legal
  counsel for Ross Stores, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;),
  we are rendering this opinion in connection with the registration under the
  Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of up to 18,500,000 shares of the Common
  Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company which may be issued pursuant to the
  exercise of options and purchase rights granted under the Ross Stores, Inc. 2004
  Equity Incentive
  Plan (the &#147;Plan&#148;).</font></p>
  
  <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We have
  examined all instruments, documents and records which we deemed relevant and
  necessary for the basis of our opinion hereinafter expressed.&#160; In such
  examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the
  authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to
  the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.&#160; We are admitted
  to practice only in the State of California and we express no opinion concerning
  any law other than the law of the State of California, the corporation laws of
  the State of Delaware and the federal law of the United States.&#160; As to
  matters of Delaware corporation law, we have based our opinion solely upon our
  examination of such laws and the rules and regulations of the authorities
  administering such laws, all as reported in standard, unofficial
  compilations.&#160; We have not obtained opinions of counsel licensed to
  practice in jurisdictions other than the State of California.&#160; </font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Based on such
  examination, we are of the opinion that the 18,500,000 shares of Common Stock
  which may be issued upon exercise of options and purchase rights granted under
  the Plan are duly authorized shares of the Company&#146;s Common Stock, and,
  when issued against receipt of the consideration therefor in accordance with the
  provisions of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and
  nonassessable.&#160; We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an
  exhibit to the Registration Statement referred to above and the use of our name
  wherever it appears in said Registration Statement.</font></p>
  <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">Respectfully submitted,</font></p>
  <table align="center"  border="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" cellspacing="0"  cellpadding="0"  width="100%">
  
   <tr>
    <td width="100%" valign="bottom">
    <p>
  <font size="2" face="Times New Roman">/s/ G<small>RAY</small>   C<small>ARY</small> W<small>ARE</small> &amp; F<small>REIDENRICH</small> LLP</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p>
  <font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">GRAY CARY WARE &amp; FREIDENRICH LLP</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  
  <div style="page-break-before:always"></div>
  <PAGE>
  <br>
  
  <p  align=right><font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><u>EXHIBIT 23.2</u></font></p>
  <p  align="center"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">INDEPENDENT AUDITORS&#146; CONSENT</font></p>
  <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">We consent to the incorporation by reference in this registration statement of Ross Stores, Inc. on Form S-8 of our report dated April 1, 2004, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Ross Stores Inc. for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004.</font></p>
  <table align="center"  border="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" cellspacing="0"  cellpadding="0"  width="100%">
  
   <tr>
    <td width="100%" valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">/s/   D<small>ELOITTE</small> &amp; T<small>OUCHE</small> LLP</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">DELOITTE &amp; TOUCHE LLP</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">San Francisco, California</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="1" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td  valign="bottom">
    <p><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">May 21, 2004</font></p>  </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p><font size=1 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  
  
  </body>
  
  </html>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "rs908067.htm", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 55696}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ROSS STORES INC", "cik": "0000745732", "assigned-sic": "5651", "irs-number": "941390387", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0131"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-115836", "film-number": "04829497"}, "business-address": {"street1": "8333 CENTRAL AVE", "city": "NEWARK", "state": "CA", "zip": "94560-3433", "phone": "5105054841"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "8333 CENTRAL AVENUE", "city": "NEWARK", "state": "CA", "zip": "94560-3433"}}
text: As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 25, 2004
  Registration No. 333-________
  UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  Washington, D.C. 20549
  FORM S-8
  REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  UNDER
  THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  Ross Stores, Inc.
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Delaware
  94-1390387
  (State or   other jurisdiction of incorporation or other organization)
  I.R.S.   Employer Identification No.)
  8333   Central Avenue
  Newark, CA  94560-3433
  (Address   principal executive offices) (Zip code)
  Ross   Stores, Inc.
  2004 Equity Incentive Plan
  (Full   title of the Plan)
  Mark S. Askanas
  General Counsel and Senior Vice   President,
  Human Resources
  Ross Stores, Inc.
  8333 Central Avenue
  Newark, CA  94560-3433
  (Name and address of agent for   service)
  Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service: (510) 505-4415.
  This registration statement shall hereafter become effective in accordance with Rule 462 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
  CALCULATION OF   REGISTRATION FEE
  Title of Securities to
  be registered
  1
  Amount to   be
  registered
  2
  Proposed
  maximum
  offering
  price per
  share
  3
  Proposed
  maximum
  aggregate
  offering price
  Amount of
  registration
  fee
  2004 Equity Incentive Plan
  Common Stock   Par Value $0.01
  18,500,000
  $
  24.34
  $
  450,290,000.00
  $
  57,051.74
  Registration fee offset
  4
  -$
  10,784.81
  TOTAL
  $
  46,266.93
  1
  The securities to be registered include options and purchase rights, as the case may be, to acquire such Common Stock.
  2
  Pursuant to Rule 416(a), this registration statement also covers any additional securities that may be offered or issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction.
  3
  The offering price is estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.  As to the shares available for grant under the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, the price is based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock on May 20, 2004 as reported on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System.
  4
  Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, the registration fee is offset by registration fees previously paid by the registrant with respect to unsold shares of common stock registered under Registration Statement No. 333-34988 on Form S-8 filed on April 18, 2000 which registration fee of $10,784.81 were paid with respect to 3,500,000 unsold shares.  The registrant has deregistered such shares by post-effective amendment.
  The unsold shares are shares that remained available for grant under the Ross Stores, Inc. 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2000 Plan") upon its termination.  The registrant adopted, effective May 20, 2004, the Ross Stores, Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan which replaces the 2000 Plan.
  PART II
  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  Item 3
  .
  Incorporation of Documents by Reference
  Ross Stores, Inc. (the "Company") hereby incorporates by reference in this registration statement the following documents:
  (a)          The Company's latest annual report on Form 10-K filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), containing audited financial statements for the Company's latest fiscal year ended January 31, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2004.
  (b)          All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the registrant document referred to in (a) above.
  (c)          The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed under the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
  All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities 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 such documents.
  Item 4
  .
  Description of Securities
  Inapplicable.
  Item 5
  .
  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
  Inapplicable.
  Item 6
  .
  Indemnification of Directors and Officers
  Section 102(b) of the Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes a corporation to provide in its Certificate of Incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to a corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach or alleged breach of the director's "duty of care."  While this statute does not change the directors' duty of care, it enables corporations to limit available relief to equitable remedies such as injunction or rescission.  The statute has no effect on a director's duty of loyalty or liability for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or knowing violations of law, illegal payment of dividends or stock redemptions or repurchases, or for any transaction from which the director derives an
  improper personal benefit.  As permitted by the statute, the Company has adopted provisions in its Certificate of Incorporation which eliminate to the fullest extent permissible under
  Delaware law the personal liability of its directors to the Company and its stockholders for monetary damages for breach or alleged breach of their duty of care.
  Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides for the indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents of a corporation.  The Bylaws of the Company provide for indemnification of its directors, officers, employees and agents to the full extent permitted by Delaware law, including those circumstances in which indemnification would otherwise be discretionary under Delaware law.  The Company's Bylaws also empower it to enter into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers and to purchase insurance on behalf of any person whom it is required or permitted to indemnify.  The Company has entered into agreements with its directors and certain of its executive officers that require the Company to indemnify such persons to the fullest extent
  permitted under Delaware law against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred (including expenses of a derivative action) in connection with any proceeding, whether actual or threatened, to which any such person may be made a party by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or an executive officer of the Company or any of its affiliated enterprises.  The indemnification agreements also set forth certain procedures that will apply in the event of a claim for indemnification thereunder.
  Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides for indemnification in terms sufficiently broad to indemnify such individuals, under certain circumstances, for liabilities (including reimbursement of expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
  Item 7
  .
  Exemption From Registration Claimed
  Inapplicable.
  Item 8
  .
  Exhibits
  See Exhibit Index.
  Item 9
  .
  Undertakings
  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 the 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 the registration statement;
  (iii)          To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
  provided, however
  , that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(l)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
  (2)          That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, 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.
  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act 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 Act 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
  SIGNATURE
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that 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 Newark, State of California, on May 24, 2004.
  R
  OSS
  S
  TORES
  , I
  NC
  .
  By:
  /s/ M
  ARK
  S. A
  SKANAS
  Mark S.   Askanas
  General Counsel and Senior Vice
  President, Human Resources
  POWER OF ATTORNEY
  The officers and directors of Ross Stores, Inc. whose signatures appear below, hereby constitute and appoint Michael Balmuth and John G. Call, and each of them, their true and lawful attorneys and agents, with full power of substitution, each with power to act alone, to sign and execute on behalf of the undersigned any amendment or amendments to this registration statement on Form S-8, and each of the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that each of said attorney and agent, or their or his substitutes, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 24, 2004.
  Signature
  Title
  /s/ M
  ICHAEL
  B
  ALMUTH
  Vice   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Director
  Michael   Balmuth
  /s/ J
  OHN
  G.   C
  ALL
  Senior Vice   President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
  John G.   Call
  /s/ N
  ORMAN
  A.   F
  ERBER
  Chairman of   the Board, Director
  Norman A.   Ferber
  /s/ K. G
  UNNAR
  B
  JORKLUND
  Director
  K. Gunnar   Bjorklund
  Director
  Michael J.   Bush
  Director
  Sharon   Garrett
  /s/ S
  TUART
  G.   M
  OLDAW
  Chairman   Emeritus and Director
  Stuart G.   Moldaw
  Director
  G. Orban
  /s/ J
  AMES
  C.   P
  ETERS
  Director,   President and Chief Operating Officer
  James C.   Peters
  /s/ D
  ONALD
  H.   S
  EILER
  Director
  Donald H.   Seiler
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  3.1
  Corrected First Restated Certificate of   Incorporation dated and filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on March   17, 1999, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Form   10-K filed for its fiscal year ended January 30, 1999 as filed with the   Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 1999 (No. 000-14678).
  3.2
  Amended Bylaws, dated August 25, 1994, is   incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Company's Form 10-Q filed for its   quarter ended July 10, 1994 as filed with the Securities and Exchange   Commission on September 13, 1994 (No. 000-14678).
  5
  Opinion of Legality
  23.1
  Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5)
  23.2
  Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent   Auditors
  24
  Power of Attorney (included in signature pages to   this registration statement)
  EXHIBIT 5
  [LETTERHEAD   OF GRAY CARY WARE & FREIDENRICH LLP]
  2000   University Avenue, East Palo Alto, CA 94303-2248
  Phone:  650-833-2000
  Fax:  650-833-2001
  www.graycary.com
  May 24, 2004
  Securities and Exchange Commission
  450 Fifth Street, N.W.
  Washington, D.C.  20549
  Ladies and Gentlemen:
  As legal
  counsel for Ross Stores, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
  we are rendering this opinion in connection with the registration under the
  Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of up to 18,500,000 shares of the Common
  Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company which may be issued pursuant to the
  exercise of options and purchase rights granted under the Ross Stores, Inc. 2004
  Equity Incentive
  Plan (the "Plan").
  We have
  examined all instruments, documents and records which we deemed relevant and
  necessary for the basis of our opinion hereinafter expressed.  In such
  examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the
  authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to
  the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.  We are admitted
  to practice only in the State of California and we express no opinion concerning
  any law other than the law of the State of California, the corporation laws of
  the State of Delaware and the federal law of the United States.  As to
  matters of Delaware corporation law, we have based our opinion solely upon our
  examination of such laws and the rules and regulations of the authorities
  administering such laws, all as reported in standard, unofficial
  compilations.  We have not obtained opinions of counsel licensed to
  practice in jurisdictions other than the State of California.
  Based on such
  examination, we are of the opinion that the 18,500,000 shares of Common Stock
  which may be issued upon exercise of options and purchase rights granted under
  the Plan are duly authorized shares of the Company's Common Stock, and,
  when issued against receipt of the consideration therefor in accordance with the
  provisions of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and
  nonassessable.  We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an
  exhibit to the Registration Statement referred to above and the use of our name
  wherever it appears in said Registration Statement.
  Respectfully submitted,
  /s/ G
  RAY
  C
  ARY
  W
  ARE
  & F
  REIDENRICH
  LLP
  GRAY CARY WARE & FREIDENRICH LLP
  EXHIBIT 23.2
  INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
  We consent to the incorporation by reference in this registration statement of Ross Stores, Inc. on Form S-8 of our report dated April 1, 2004, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Ross Stores Inc. for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004.
  /s/   D
  ELOITTE
  & T
  OUCHE
  LLP
  DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
  San Francisco, California
  May 21, 2004