1
                                                                  Exhibit 99.1



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

         MEDIA CONTACT:                                      INVESTOR CONTACT:
         Thomas Dingledy                                     Dianne McCormick
         216/425-9811 x6145                                  216/425-9811 x1900

                            Joele Frank / Dan Katcher
                            Abernathy MacGregor Group
                                  212/371-5999

                        REVCO ANNOUNCES OFFER TO ACQUIRE
                          BIG B FOR $15 PER BIG B SHARE

   TWINSBURG, OHIO (SEPTEMBER 9, 1996) -- Revco D.S., Inc. [NYSE: RXR] today
announced that it is commencing a cash tender offer for all of the outstanding
shares of Big B, Inc. [NASDAQ: BIGB] at a price of $15 per share. This
represents a premium of 53% over the $9.81 average closing price of Big B stock
for the 90-calendar day period ended Friday, September 6, 1996. Following the
completion of the tender offer, Revco intends to consummate a merger in which
all remaining Big B shareholders will also receive the same cash price paid in
the tender offer. Big B has approximately 22.0 million shares on a fully diluted
basis, giving the transaction a total equity value of approximately $330
million.

Revco currently owns 1,190,000 shares of Big B common stock, representing
approximately 5.4% of Big B's shares on a fully diluted basis. The transaction
is anticipated to be accretive to Revco's earnings per share in the first year
of the combination.

D. Dwayne Hoven, President and Chief Executive Officer of Revco, said "This is
truly a win-win opportunity for Revco and Big B shareholders, employees and
customers. With Revco's financial resources, technological expertise and
marketing and sales capability, we can together grow our combined company's
customer base and increase our sales potential. Among other efficiencies, this
combination will allow the combined company to spread costs over a larger base
of stores. This will assist us in meeting the increasing customer demand for
lower pharmacy prices. We hope that the Board of Directors of Big B will
recognize the significant benefits to Big B and its shareholders."

The tender offer is not contingent on Revco obtaining financing. Revco intends
to finance the tender offer through a combination of cash on hand and bank
borrowings. The tender offer is conditioned upon the acquisition of a majority
of Big B's shares