Exhibit 99.1


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Byron L. Bergren, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Elder-Beerman
Stores Corp., (the "Company"), do hereby certify in accordance with 18. U.S.C.
1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
that, to my knowledge:

         The Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended
         February 1, 2003 (the "Periodic Report") fully complies with the
         requirement of section 13 (a) or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act
         of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)) and

         The information contained in the Periodic Report fairly present, in all
         material respects, the financial condition and results of operation of
         the Company.

Dated:  April 18, 2003


                                         /s/ Byron L. Bergren
                                         --------------------------------------
                                         Byron L. Bergren
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer