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):  July 9, 1996


                             99 CENTS ONLY STORES
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its 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)

                                (213) LUCKY-99
                        (Registrant's telephone number)


ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

     Reference is made to the press release of Registrant, issued on July 9,
1996, which contains information meeting the requirements of this Item 5, and
which is incorporated herein by this reference.  A copy of this press release
is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit "A."

                                  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.


July 12, 1996                      99 Cents Only Stores



                                   By:  /s/ Eric Schiffer                     
                                        --------------------------------------
                                        Eric Schiffer
                                        Senior Vice President of 
                                        Operations and Administration