SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 16, 1999


                              Pathmark Stores, Inc.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

    Delaware                       1-5287                        22-2879612
(State or other                  (Commission                  (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of                  File Number)                Identification No.)
incorporation)

200 Milik Street, Carteret, New Jersey                              07008
(Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (732) 499-3000






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Item 5. Other Events.

         A copy of the press release, dated December 16, 1999, issued by the
registrant is attached as an exhibit to this report and is incorporated herein
by reference.






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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
  No.           Description
- -------         -----------
 99.1           Press Release issued by the registrant, dated December 16, 1999.








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                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                             PATHMARK STORES, INC.

Date:    December 16, 1999                   /s/ Marc A. Strassler
                                             ---------------------------------
                                             Name:  Marc A. Strassler
                                             Title: Senior Vice President and
                                                    General Counsel