SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                          ----------------------------

                                    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): October 22, 2002


                              99(CENT) ONLY STORES
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



           California                  1-11735                 95-2411605
  (State or Other Jurisdiction       (Commission             (IRS Employer
       of Incorporation)             File Number)          Identification No.)


                         4000 East Union Pacific Avenue
                       City of Commerce, California 90023
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


                                 (323) 980-8145
                         (Registrant's Telephone Number)





ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS


     Reference is made to the press release of Registrant, issued on October 22,
2002, which contains information meeting the requirements of this Item 5, and
which are incorporated herein by this reference. A copy of this press release is
attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.


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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.



October 22, 2002                       99(cent)ONLY STORES



                                       By:  /S/ ANDREW FARINA
                                          ---------------------------------
                                            Andrew Farina
                                            Chief Financial Officer



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBITS


99.1       Press Release dated October 22, 2002.

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