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                                                                      Exhibit 23

                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement 
Nos. 333-48367 and 333-483369 of The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. on Form S-8 of 
our report dated April 9, 1999, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of 
The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. for the year ended January 30, 1999.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Dayton, Ohio
April 21, 1999