Section 240.14a-101  Schedule 14A.
          Information required in proxy statement.
                 Schedule 14A Information
   Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                      Exchange Act of 1934
                        (Amendment No.  )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ]  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted
     by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]  Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section
     240.14a-12

                  REX STORES CORPORATION
 .................................................................
     (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


 .................................................................
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)


Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X]  No fee required
[ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1)
           and 0-11

     (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction
           applies:


     ............................................................

     (2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction
           applies:


     .......................................................

     (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount
on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined):


     .......................................................

     (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:


     .......................................................

     (5)  Total fee paid:


     .......................................................

[ ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

[ ]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
     Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for
     which the offsetting fee was paid previously.  Identify the
     previous filing by registration statement number, or the
     Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

          (1) Amount Previously Paid:

           
          .......................................................

          (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:


          .......................................................

          (3) Filing Party:


          .......................................................

          (4) Date Filed:

            
          .......................................................

 




                                     [Logo]
 
                             REX STORES CORPORATION
                               2875 NEEDMORE ROAD
                               DAYTON, OHIO 45414
                            ------------------------
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                           TO BE HELD ON JUNE 7, 1999
 
     The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of REX Stores Corporation will be held
at the Dayton Racquet Club, Kettering Tower, Dayton, Ohio on Monday, June 7,
1999, at 2:00 p.m., for the following purposes:
 
          1. Election of five members to the Board of Directors to serve until
     the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their respective
     successors are elected and qualified.
 
          2. Transaction of such other business as may properly come before the
     Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
     Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 26, 1999 will
be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
 
     All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in
person.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors


                                          EDWARD M. KRESS
                                          EDWARD M. KRESS
                                          Secretary
 
Dayton, Ohio
May 3, 1999
 
        WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE MARK,
        DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE
        ENVELOPE PROVIDED.





                             REX STORES CORPORATION
                               2875 NEEDMORE ROAD
                               DAYTON, OHIO 45414
                       ---------------------------------
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                       ---------------------------------
 
                                  MAILING DATE
                                  MAY 3, 1999
 
                              GENERAL INFORMATION
 
     This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of REX Stores Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the 'Company'), for use for the purposes set forth herein at its
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on June 7, 1999 and any adjournments
thereof. All properly executed proxies will be voted as directed by the
shareholder on the proxy card. If no direction is given, proxies will be voted
in accordance with the Board of Directors' recommendations and, in the
discretion of the proxy holders, in the transaction of such other business as
may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof. Any
proxy may be revoked by a shareholder by delivering written notice of revocation
to the Company or in person at the Annual Meeting at any time prior to the
voting thereof.
 
     The Company has one class of stock outstanding, namely Common Stock, $.01
par value, of which there were 7,625,776 shares outstanding as of April 26,
1999. Only holders of Common Stock whose names appeared of record on the books
of the Company at the close of business on April 26, 1999 are entitled to notice
of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each shareholder is entitled to one vote
per share.
 
     A majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock will constitute a
quorum at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for
purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum. Directors are
elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Common Stock at a
meeting at which a quorum is present. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not
be counted toward a nominee's achievement of a plurality and thus will have no
effect. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker submits a proxy that indicates
the broker does not have discretionary authority to vote the shares on a
particular matter.
 
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
     Five directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting to hold office until
the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are elected
and qualified. Unless otherwise directed, it is the intention of the persons
named in the accompanying proxy to vote each proxy for the election of the
nominees listed below. All nominees are presently directors of the Company.
 
     If at the time of the Annual Meeting any nominee is unable or declines to
serve, the proxy holders will vote for the election of such substitute nominee
as the Board of Directors may recommend. The
 




Company and the Board of Directors have no reason to believe that any substitute
nominee will be required.
 
     Set forth below is certain information with respect to the nominees for
director.
 
     STUART ROSE, 44, has been the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company since its incorporation in 1984 as a holding company to
succeed to the ownership of Rex Radio and Television, Inc. ('Rex Radio & TV'),
Kelly & Cohen Appliances, Inc. ('Kelly & Cohen') and Stereo Town, Inc. ('Stereo
Town'). Prior to 1984, Mr. Rose was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of Rex Radio & TV, which he founded in 1980 to acquire the stock of a
corporation which operated four retail stores.
 
     LAWRENCE TOMCHIN, 71, has been the President and Chief Operating Officer of
the Company since 1990. From 1984 to 1990, he was the Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Mr. Tomchin has been a director of
the Company since 1984. Mr. Tomchin was Vice President and General Manager of
the corporation which was acquired by Rex Radio & TV in 1980 and served as
Executive Vice President of Rex Radio & TV after the acquisition.
 
     ROBERT DAVIDOFF, 72, has been a director of the Company since 1984. Mr.
Davidoff has been employed by Carl Marks & Co., Inc., an investment banking
firm, since 1950 and currently is Vice President in charge of corporate finance.
Mr. Davidoff is also a general partner of CMNY Capital, L.P., a limited
partnership and successor in interest through liquidation to CMNY Capital
Company, Inc., a small business investment company of which Mr. Davidoff was
Vice President. Mr. Davidoff is also a director of Hubco Exploration, Inc.,
Marisa Christina, Inc. and Aquis Communications Group, Inc.
 
     EDWARD KRESS, 49, has been the Secretary of the Company since 1984 and a
director of the Company since 1985. Mr. Kress has been a partner of the law firm
of Chernesky, Heyman & Kress P.L.L., counsel for the Company, since 1988. From
1985 to 1988, Mr. Kress was a member of the law firm of Smith & Schnacke. Mr.
Kress has practiced law in Dayton, Ohio since 1974.
 
     LEE FISHER, 47, has been a director of the Company since 1996. Mr. Fisher
is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Families and
Children, a private nonprofit human services organization. Mr. Fisher was a
partner of the law firm of Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP from 1995 to March 1999. Mr.
Fisher served as Ohio Attorney General from 1991 to 1995, State Senator, Ohio
General Assembly, from 1983 to 1991, and State Representative, Ohio General
Assembly, from 1981 to 1983. Mr. Fisher also practiced law with Hahn Loeser &
Parks from 1978 to 1991.
 
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
     The Board of Directors has three standing committees: the Executive
Committee, the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee. The Board has no
nominating committee.
 
     The Executive Committee (of which Messrs. Rose and Tomchin are members) is
empowered to exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors
between meetings of the Board, other than the power to fill vacancies on the
Board or on any Board committee and the power to declare dividends.
 
     The Audit Committee (of which Messrs. Davidoff and Fisher are members)
meets with Company personnel and with representatives of the Company's
independent public accountants to review internal auditing procedures and
matters relating to the annual audit of the Company's financial statements. The
 
                                       2
 




committee also annually recommends to the Board of Directors the appointment of
independent public accountants.
 
     The Compensation Committee (of which Messrs. Davidoff and Fisher are
members) establishes the Company's executive compensation policies and
administers the Company's stock option plans. See 'Compensation Committee Report
on Executive Compensation.'
 
     The Executive Committee did not meet but took action by unanimous written
consent 13 times during the fiscal year ended January 31, 1999. The Audit
Committee met once during the fiscal year ended January 31, 1999. The
Compensation Committee met once and took action by unanimous written consent
three times during the fiscal year ended January 31, 1999.
 
     The Board of Directors held one meeting and took action by unanimous
written consent twice during the fiscal year ended January 31, 1999. Each
incumbent director, other than Mr. Fisher, attended all meetings of the Board of
Directors and Board Committees on which he served.
 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
     Directors who are not officers or employees of the Company may receive a
fee of up to $1,000 plus reasonable expenses for each meeting of the Board
attended.
 
     Nonemployee directors are eligible to receive grants of stock options under
the Company's 1995 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan. Under the Plan, on the date of
each annual meeting of the Company's shareholders, each nonemployee director is
awarded a nonqualified stock option to purchase a number of shares of Common
Stock such that the exercise price of the option multiplied by the number of
shares subject to the option is as near as possible to $100,000, but in no event
more than 10,000 shares. The exercise price of each nonqualified option is the
fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. The options are
exercisable in five equal annual installments commencing on the first
anniversary of the date of grant and expire ten years from the date of grant.
For fiscal 1999, each nonemployee director was granted an option to purchase
8,000 shares at an exercise price of $12.50 per share.
 
                                       3
 




                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
     The following table sets forth the compensation awarded to, earned by or
paid to the Chief Executive Officer, and to each of the other executive officers
of the Company whose total annual salary and bonus exceeded $100,000, for
services rendered in all capacities to the Company and its subsidiaries for each
of the last three fiscal years ended January 31.
 


                                                                                    LONG-TERM
                                                                                   COMPENSATION
                                                                                   ------------
                                                                                      AWARDS
                                                                                   ------------
                                                          ANNUAL COMPENSATION       SECURITIES
                  NAME AND                              -----------------------     UNDERLYING          ALL OTHER
             PRINCIPAL POSITION                 YEAR    SALARY ($)    BONUS ($)     OPTIONS(#)     COMPENSATION ($)(1)
- ---------------------------------------------   ----    ----------    ---------    ------------    -------------------
                                                                                    
Stuart Rose .................................   1999      154,500      443,315        525,000                0
  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive     1998      154,500      298,000         20,000                0
  Officer                                       1997      154,500      284,600          5,961                0
                                                
Lawrence Tomchin ............................   1999      154,500      207,250        175,000                0
  President and Chief Operating Officer         1998      154,500      139,350         20,000                0
                                                1997      154,500      133,050          6,557                0
                                                 
Douglas Bruggeman ...........................   1999      107,200       23,000         25,000              200
  Vice President -- Finance and Treasurer       1998       98,400       15,400         57,207              200
                                                1997       96,800       14,700         15,000              200

 
- ------------
 
(1) Amounts in this column represent employer matching contributions on behalf
    of the named executive under the Company's Profit Sharing Plan.
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
     Stuart Rose and Lawrence Tomchin have entered into Employment Agreements
with Rex Radio & TV. The Agreements provide that Mr. Rose and Mr. Tomchin are
each entitled to an annual salary of $154,500, a cash bonus at the discretion of
the Board of Directors, participation in all employee benefit plans and
reimbursement for business expenses. Each Agreement is for a term of three years
commencing January 1, 1997 and is automatically renewed for additional one-year
terms until Mr. Rose's or Mr. Tomchin's resignation, death, total disability or
termination of employment for cause, unless earlier terminated by either party
upon 180 days written notice. Effective October 14, 1998, Messrs. Rose and
Tomchin each entered into new Employment Agreements on the same terms as their
current Agreements for a three-year term commencing January 1, 2000 through
December 31, 2002.
 
                                       4
 




                       OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
 
     The following table sets forth information concerning individual grants of
stock options made to the named executive officers during the fiscal year ended
January 31, 1999.
 


                                                           INDIVIDUAL GRANTS                     POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
                                          ----------------------------------------------------     VALUE AT ASSUMED
                                           NUMBER OF      % OF TOTAL                             ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
                                          SECURITIES       OPTIONS                                PRICE APPRECIATION
                                          UNDERLYING      GRANTED TO     EXERCISE                   FOR OPTION TERM
                                            OPTIONS      EMPLOYEES IN     PRICE     EXPIRATION   ---------------------
                  NAME                    GRANTED (#)    FISCAL YEAR      ($/SH)       DATE       5% ($)      10% ($)
                  ----                    -----------   --------------   --------   ----------   ---------   ---------
                                                                                           
Stuart Rose.............................     25,000(2)                    11.50       6/12/08      180,807     458,201
                                            500,000(3)       55.3          9.9375    10/14/08    3,124,820   7,918,908
Lawrence Tomchin........................      7,000(1)                    11.50       6/12/08       50,626     128,296
                                             18,000(2)                    11.50       6/12/08      130,181     329,905
                                            150,000(3)       18.4          9.9375    10/14/08      937,446   2,375,672
Douglas Bruggeman.......................      7,000(1)                    11.50       6/12/08       50,626     128,296
                                             18,000(2)        2.6         11.50       6/12/08      130,181     329,905

 
- ------------
 
(1) Incentive stock options granted pursuant to the Company's 1995 Omnibus Stock
    Incentive Plan (the 'Omnibus Plan'). These options become exercisable in
    five cumulative installments of 20% on each anniversary of the date of
    grant. The date of grant was June 12, 1998.
 
(2) Nonqualified options granted pursuant to the Omnibus Plan. These options
    become exercisable in five cumulative installments of 20% on each
    anniversary of the date of grant. The date of grant was June 12, 1998.
 
(3) Nonqualified executive stock options granted in connection with entering
    into a new three-year employment agreement commencing January 1, 2000. These
    options become exercisable in one-third increments on December 31, 2000,
    2001 and 2002.
 
                AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                       AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
 
     The following table sets forth information concerning each exercise of
stock options during fiscal 1999 by each of the named executive officers and the
fiscal year-end value of unexercised options.
 


                                                                      NUMBER OF SECURITIES
                                                                     UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED         VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                                   OPTIONS AT FISCAL YEAR-END      IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
                                      SHARES                                  (#)                   FISCAL YEAR-END ($)(1)
                                     ACQUIRED ON       VALUE       ---------------------------   ---------------------------
               NAME                  EXERCISE (#)   REALIZED ($)   EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE   EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE
- -----------------------------------  ------------   ------------   -----------   -------------   -----------   -------------
                                                                                             
Stuart Rose........................          0                0      914,532        698,251       2,765,000      1,374,063
Lawrence Tomchin...................     14,545          101,815      485,356        248,976       1,957,226        455,313
Douglas Bruggeman..................      5,000           36,875       26,324         55,883         107,814        127,605

 
- ------------
 
(1) Unexercised options were in-the-money if the fair market value of the
    underlying shares exceeded the exercise price of the option at January 31,
    1999.
 
                                       5
 




COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors was comprised during
fiscal 1999 of Robert Davidoff and Lee Fisher, both outside directors of the
Company. This Committee establishes policies relating to compensation of
executive officers of the Company and administers the Company's 1995 Omnibus
Stock Incentive Plan (the 'Omnibus Plan').
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION POLICIES
 
     The goal of the Company's executive compensation policy is to ensure that
an appropriate relationship exists between executive pay and the creation of
shareholder value, while at the same time motivating and retaining key
employees. To achieve this goal, the Company's executive compensation policies
integrate base salary with annual bonuses based upon corporate and individual
performance, supplemented with long-term equity-based incentive awards.
 
     Base salary is intended to be set at a level below the base salaries paid
to executives of similarly-sized companies within the industry and the peer
group. Salaries for executive officers are reviewed by the Committee on an
annual basis, subject to the terms of any existing employment agreements.
 
     Annual bonuses are intended to comprise a substantial portion of each
senior executive officer's annual cash compensation and are based upon corporate
financial performance. For fiscal years prior to 1999, the Committee used the
amount of the Company's pre-tax earnings as a percentage of net sales (the
'Pre-Tax Earnings Percentage') as the performance measure for determining senior
executives' bonuses. For fiscal 1999, to reflect tax savings realized from the
Company's investments generating income tax credits, the Committee established
the amount of the Company's after-tax earnings as a percentage of net sales (the
'After-Tax Earnings Percentage') as the performance measure for determining
senior executives' bonuses. Annual bonuses for the executive officers other than
senior executives are established by the Chief Executive Officer based on his
assessment of the individual's performance.
 
     Long-term incentive awards are made in the form of annual grants of
incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options pursuant to the Omnibus
Plan. Stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and other stock-based awards
may also be granted under the Plan. The Committee feels that stock options and
other stock-based awards are an effective long-term incentive for executive
officers to create value for shareholders, since their value bears a direct
relationship to the Company's stock price. Stock options are granted at the fair
market value of the underlying shares at the date of grant (unless otherwise
required by applicable law), and generally vest in installments over multiple
years. During fiscal 1999, incentive stock options were granted under the
Omnibus Plan to 59 employees, including two executive officers, and nonqualified
stock options were granted to seven officers, including three executive
officers, based primarily on the individual's contribution to the Company's
growth and profitability.
 
CEO COMPENSATION
 
     Stuart Rose, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
received a base salary of $154,500 in fiscal 1999 pursuant to the terms of his
employment agreement.
 
     Mr. Rose earned a cash bonus of $443,315 in fiscal 1999, compared to his
fiscal 1998 cash bonus of $298,000. This increase was based on the fiscal 1999
After-Tax Earnings Percentage of 2.68675% (compared to the fiscal 1998 Pre-Tax
Earnings Percentage of 2.98%). In determining Mr. Rose's cash bonus, the
Committee utilized a measure of a $165,000 cash bonus for each After-Tax
Earnings
 
                                       6
 




Percentage point compared to $100,000 for each Pre-Tax Earnings Percentage point
in fiscal 1998, reflecting a historical ratio of 1.65 to 1 between the Company's
Pre-Tax and After-Tax Earnings Percentages.
 
     Mr. Rose was granted 25,000 nonqualified stock options under the Omnibus
Plan in fiscal 1999 at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, which was the fair
market value of the underlying shares on the date of grant. The number of
options granted to Mr. Rose equaled the aggregate option grants to each of the
other executive officers under the Omnibus Plan. Mr. Rose was also granted
500,000 nonqualified executive stock options at an exercise price of $9.9375 per
share, the fair market value of the underlying shares on the grant date, in
connection with his entering into a new three-year employment agreement
commencing January 1, 2000.
 
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 162(M)
 
     Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally disallows a federal
income tax deduction to a public company for compensation paid in excess of $1
million in any taxable year to the corporation's chief executive officer or any
of its other named executive officers in the proxy statement. Based on current
compensation levels and the present structure of the Company's compensation
programs, the Company believes that the annual compensation paid to its
executive officers will not exceed or otherwise be subject to the deduction
limitation, other than with the possible exception of the nonqualified executive
stock options granted in 1993 and 1998. Depending upon the number of options
exercised by a senior executive officer in a particular year and the value of
the underlying shares at that time, exercise of the 1993 or 1998 nonqualified
executive stock options could result in the individual's annual compensation
exceeding the $1 million deduction limitation.
 
                                          ROBERT DAVIDOFF
                                          LEE FISHER
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
     Lee Fisher, a member of the Compensation Committee, was a partner of the
law firm of Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP until March 1999. During fiscal 1999, Hahn
Loeser & Parks provided legal services to the Company.
 
                                       7
 




PERFORMANCE GRAPH
 
     Set forth below is a line graph comparing the yearly percentage change in
the cumulative total shareholder return on the Company's Common Stock against
the cumulative total return of the S&P 500 Stock Index and a peer index
comprised of three selected publicly traded consumer electronics retailers (*)
for the period commencing January 31, 1994 and ended January 31, 1999. The graph
assumes an investment of $100 in the Company's Common Stock and each index on
January 31, 1994 and reinvestment of all dividends.


                           REX STORES CORPORATION
                      Comparison of Five Year Total Return
                (REX Stores Corporation, S&P 500 and Peer Group)

                            [PERFORMANCE GRAPH]





                        REX               S&P           Peer
                      Stores              500          Group--
                    Corporation          Index        Industry*
                    -----------          -----         -------
                                              
1/31/94                 100                100            100
1/31/95                  80                101             92
1/31/96                  64                140             59
1/31/97                  40                176             41
1/31/98                  50                224             42
1/31/99                  62                296             44



 
- ------------
 
*  The peer group is comprised of The Good Guys, Inc., Sound Advice, Inc. and
   Ultimate Electronics, Inc. The peer group used in prior years was comprised
   of The Good Guys, Inc., Campo Electronics, Appliances and Computers, Inc. and
   Sun Television & Appliances, Inc. Sound Advice and Ultimate Electronics
   replaced Campo Electronics and Sun TV because the latter two companies are
   out of business.
 
                                       8
 




                    SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
                             OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT



 
     The following table sets forth, as of April 26, 1999 (the record date for
the Annual Meeting), certain information with respect to the beneficial
ownership of the Company's Common Stock by each director and nominee for
director of the Company, each executive officer of the Company, all directors
and executive officers of the Company as a group and those persons or groups
known by the Company to own more than 5% of the Company's Common Stock.
 
     For purposes of this table, a person is considered to 'beneficially own'
any shares if such person, directly or indirectly, through any contract,
arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise, has (or has the right to
acquire within 60 days after April 26, 1999) sole or shared power (i) to vote or
to direct the voting of such shares or (ii) to dispose or to direct the
disposition of such shares. Unless otherwise indicated, voting power and
investment power are exercised solely by the named person or shared with members
of his household.
 


                                                                                                 COMMON STOCK
                                                                                              BENEFICIALLY OWNED
                                                                                            -----------------------
                                    NAME AND ADDRESS                                         NUMBER      PERCENT(1)
                                    ----------------                                         ------      ----------
                                                                                                   
Stuart Rose(2) ..........................................................................   2,327,749       28.2%
  2875 Needmore Road
  Dayton, Ohio 45414
Lawrence Tomchin(3) .....................................................................     588,790        7.4%
  2875 Needmore Road
  Dayton, Ohio 45414
Robert Davidoff(4) ......................................................................     340,310        4.5%
  135 East 57th Street, 27th Floor
  New York, New York 10022
Edward Kress(5) .........................................................................      63,735       *
  1100 Courthouse Plaza S.W.
  Dayton, Ohio 45402
Lee Fisher(6) ...........................................................................       9,037       *
  Western Reserve Building
  1468 West 9th Street
  Cleveland, Ohio 44113
Douglas Bruggeman(7) ....................................................................      61,824       *
  2875 Needmore Road
  Dayton, Ohio 45414
All directors and executive officers as a group (6 persons)(8)...........................   3,391,445       39.4%
FMR Corp.(9)  ...........................................................................     636,400        8.9%
  82 Devonshire Street
  Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Investment Counselors of Maryland, Inc.(10) .............................................     583,500        8.1%
  803 Cathedral Street
  Baltimore, Maryland 21201-5297
Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc.(11) ......................................................     533,100        7.5%
  1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor
  Santa Monica, California 90401

 
                                                  (table continued on next page)
 
                                       9
 




(table continued from previous page)
 


                                                                                                 COMMON STOCK
                                                                                              BENEFICIALLY OWNED
                                                                                            -----------------------
                                    NAME AND ADDRESS                                         NUMBER      PERCENT(1)
                                    ----------------                                         ------      ----------
                                                                                                   
The TCW Group, Inc.(12) .................................................................     513,100        7.2%
  865 South Figueroa Street
  Los Angeles, California 90017
Lighthouse Capital Management, Inc.(13) .................................................     372,500        5.2%
  10000 Memorial Drive, Suite 660
  Houston, Texas 77024
Granahan Investment Management, Inc.(14) ................................................     360,200        5.0%
  275 Wyman Street, Suite 270
  Waltham, Massachusetts 02154

 
- ------------
 
 * One percent or less.
 
 (1) Percentages are calculated on the basis of the number of shares outstanding
     on April 26, 1999 plus the number of shares issuable upon the exercise of
     options held by the person or group which are exercisable within 60 days
     after April 26, 1999, except for persons filing Schedule 13G whose
     percentages are as reported.
 
 (2) Includes (i) 147,084 shares held by the Stuart Rose Foundation, an Ohio
     nonprofit corporation of which Mr. Rose is the sole member, president and
     one of three members of the board of trustees, the other two being members
     of his immediate family and (ii) 620,508 shares issuable upon the exercise
     of options.
 
 (3) Includes 10,017 shares held by Mr. Tomchin's wife and 284,747 shares
     issuable upon the exercise of options.
 
 (4) Includes 325,659 shares held of record by CMNY Capital, L.P. and 14,651
     shares issuable upon the exercise of options. Mr. Davidoff is a general
     partner of CMNY Capital, L.P. and has shared voting and investment power
     with respect to the shares it holds.
 
 (5) Includes 26,960 shares held by Mr. Kress as co-trustee of two trusts with
     respect to which Mr. Kress has shared voting and investment power, 2,123
     shares held by Mr. Kress as trustee of two trusts for the benefit of his
     minor children and 14,651 shares issuable upon the exercise of options.
 
 (6) Includes 9,037 shares issuable upon the exercise of options.
 
 (7) Includes 39,324 shares issuable upon the exercise of options.
 
 (8) Includes 982,918 shares issuable upon the exercise of options.
 
 (9) Based on a Schedule 13G filing dated February 1, 1999. Fidelity Management
     & Research Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR Corp. and a registered
     investment adviser, is the beneficial owner of 636,400 shares of Common
     Stock of the Company as a result of acting as investment adviser to various
     registered investment companies. One investment company, Fidelity
     Low-Priced Stock Fund, owns 571,400 shares. Edward C. Johnson 3d (Chairman
     of FMR Corp.), FMR Corp., through its control of Fidelity Management &
     Research Company, and the funds each has sole power to dispose of the
     636,400 shares owned by the funds, while the sole power to vote or direct
     the voting of such shares resides solely with the funds' boards of
     trustees.
 
                                              (footnotes continued on next page)
 
                                       10
 




(footnotes continued from previous page)
 
(10) Based on a Schedule 13G filing dated February 1, 1999. All shares of Common
     Stock are owned by various investment advisory clients of Investment
     Counselors of Maryland, Inc., which is deemed to be a beneficial owner of
     those shares due to its discretionary power to make investment decisions
     over such shares for its clients and its ability to vote such shares.
     Investment Counselors of Maryland, Inc. has sole power to vote and dispose
     of 583,500 shares.
 
(11) Based on a Schedule 13G filing dated February 11, 1999. Dimensional Fund
     Advisors Inc., a registered investment adviser, furnishes investment advice
     to four registered investment companies and serves as investment manager to
     certain other investment vehicles, including commingled group trusts.
     Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. has sole power to vote and dispose of
     533,100 shares owned by those portfolios. Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc.
     disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares.
 
(12) Based on a Schedule 13G filing dated February 12, 1999. The TCW Group, Inc.
     and Robert Day (an individual who may be deemed to control The TCW Group,
     Inc.) have shared power to vote and dispose of 513,100 shares, which shares
     are held by Trust Company of the West, TCW Asset Management Company and
     Oakmont Corporation.
 
(13) Based on a Schedule 13G filing dated February 12, 1999. Lighthouse Capital
     Management, Inc. has sole power to vote and dispose of 372,500 shares. Paul
     G. Horton and Kevin P. Duffy disclaim beneficial ownership of all such
     shares except for the pro rata interest in certain shares held by
     Lighthouse Capital Management, Inc. of which each is a shareholder.
 
(14) Based on a Schedule 13G filing dated February 1, 1999. Granahan Investment
     Management, Inc. has sole power to vote 7,500 shares and sole power to
     dispose of 360,200 shares.
 
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
 
     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
directors and executive officers to file reports of ownership and changes of
ownership of the Company's Common Stock with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Company believes that during fiscal 1999 all filing requirements
applicable to its directors and executive officers were met.
 
                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
     Rex Radio and Television, Inc. leases 10,000 square feet for a store in a
strip shopping center in Beavercreek, Ohio, from Stuart Rose/Beavercreek, Inc.
The shareholders of Stuart Rose/Beavercreek, Inc. are Stuart Rose and Lawrence
Tomchin. The lease term is 10 years plus four additional five year renewal
options. Base rent is $82,500 per year during the primary term and increases
each renewal term. In consideration of the lease, the Company licensed the REX
trade name to Stuart Rose/Beavercreek, Inc. to name the shopping center 'Rex
Centre.' The transaction was authorized by the Company's outside directors.
 
     During fiscal 1999, the Company paid the law firm of Chernesky, Heyman &
Kress P.L.L., of which Edward Kress is a partner, a total of $390,080 for legal
services.
 
                         INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
     Arthur Andersen LLP served as the Company's independent public accountants
for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1999, and has served in that capacity
since the Company's incorporation in 1984. It is
 
                                       11
 




anticipated that representatives of Arthur Andersen LLP will be present at the
Annual Meeting to respond to questions from shareholders and to make a statement
if they desire to do so.
 
     The Board of Directors of the Company annually appoints the independent
public accountants for the Company after receiving the recommendations of its
Audit Committee. No recommendation of the Audit Committee has been made
concerning the appointment of independent public accountants for the fiscal year
ending January 31, 2000.
 
                                 OTHER BUSINESS
 
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
 
     The Company will bear the entire expense of this proxy solicitation.
Arrangements will be made with brokers and other custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries to send proxy solicitation materials to their principals and the
Company will, upon request, reimburse them for their reasonable expenses in so
doing. Officers and other regular employees of the Company may solicit proxies
by mail, in person or by telephone.
 
OTHER MATTERS
 
     The Board of Directors does not know of any matters to be presented at the
Annual Meeting other than those mentioned above. However, if other matters
should properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof, the
proxy holders will vote the proxies thereon in their discretion.
 
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
     Proposals by shareholders intended to be presented at the Company's 2000
Annual Meeting of Shareholders must, in accordance with applicable regulations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission, be received by the Secretary of the
Company at 2875 Needmore Road, Dayton, Ohio 45414 on or before January 4, 2000
in order to be considered for inclusion in the Company's proxy materials for
that meeting. Shareholder proposals intended to be submitted at the 2000 Annual
Meeting outside the processes of Rule 14a-8 will be considered untimely under
Rule 14a-4(c)(1) if not received by the Company at its corporate offices on or
before March 20, 2000. If the Company does not receive timely notice of such
proposal, the proxy holders will vote on the proposal, if presented at the
meeting, in their discretion.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                          EDWARD M. KRESS
                                          EDWARD M. KRESS
                                          Secretary
May 3, 1999
Dayton, Ohio
 
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                                                                      APPENDIX 1


PROXY

                             REX STORES CORPORATION
                    PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                                  JUNE 7, 1999

     The undersigned hereby appoints Stuart Rose and Lawrence Tomchin and each
of them proxies for the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote
all the shares of Common Stock of REX STORES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting
of Shareholders of the Company to be held on Monday, June 7, 1999, at 2:00 p.m.
and any adjournments thereof.

                (CONTINUED, AND TO BE SIGNED, ON THE OTHER SIDE)






                        PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND MAIL YOUR
                      PROXY CARD BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                             REX STORES CORPORATION

                                  JUNE 7, 1999



                Please Detach and Mail in the Envelope Provided


A   [ X ]   PLEASE MARK YOUR
            VOTES AS IN THIS
            EXAMPLE.



                                  WITHHOLD         
                                  AUTHORITY        
                FOR ALL           to vote          
                nominees listed   for all nominees 
                at right          listed at right  
                                              
1. ELECTION OF       [  ]              [  ]          NOMINEES:  Stuart Rose
   DIRECTORS                                                    Lawrence Tomchin
                                                                Robert Davidoff
                                                                Edward Kress
                                                                Lee Fisher



(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a
line through the nominee's name at right.)

2. IN THEIR DISCRETION the proxies are authorized to vote upon such
   other business as may properly come before the Meeting.

This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors and
will be voted as directed herein. If no direction is given,
this proxy shall be voted FOR Proposal 1.



(Signatures)__________________________________________ Dated _____________, 1999

NOTE:  Shareholders should date this proxy and sign here exactly as the name(s)
       hereon. If stock is held jointly, both should sign this proxy. Executors,
       administrators, trustees, guardians, and others signing in a fiduciary
       capacity should indicate their full title in such capacity.