Exhibit 99.1                                                               


99 CENTS ONLY STORES ANNOUNCES FILING OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR EXCHANGE
OFFER

     City of Commerce, CA -- April 20, 1998 -- 99 Cents Only Stores (NYSE:
NDN) announced that it has filed a Registration Statement with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) pursuant to which it intends to
offer to exchange one share of 99 Cents Only Stores common stock for each 16
outstanding shares of common stock of Universal International, Inc. (the
"Exchange Offer").

     99 Cents Only Stores and Universal International also announced that
they have executed an agreement pursuant to which Universal International
will support the Exchange Offer and will assist 99 Cents Only Stores in its
solicitation of the vote of the shareholders of Universal International in
favor of the Exchange Offer.

     Norman Ravich and Mark Ravich, the former Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Universal International, respectively, holders of an aggregate
of approximately 10 percent of the outstanding common stock of Universal
International, have executed definitive agreements pursuant to which they
have agreed to vote all shares of common stock of Universal International
owned by them in favor of the Exchange Offer, and to tender such shares to
99 Cents Only Stores in the Exchange Offer.

     The Exchange Offer will be made only by means of a Prospectus.  A
Registration Statement relating to these securities has been filed with the
SEC but has not yet become effective.  These securities may not be sold nor
may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the Registration Statement
becomes effective.  

     This announcement shall not constitute an offer to sell or the 
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these 
securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws 
of any State.

     99 Cents Only Stores is a leading deep-discount retailer of primarily
name-brand consumable general merchandise at an affordable, single price
point of 99 cents.  The Company's stores offer a wide assortment of regularly
available consumer goods as well as a broad variety of first-quality, 
close-out merchandise.

     In 1997, a majority of the Company's product offerings were comprised
of recognizable name-brand merchandise and were regularly available for 
reorder.  The Company also sells merchandise through its Bargain Wholesale
division.  The Company's 55 existing 99 Cents Only Stores are located in 
Southern California.

     Universal International is a deep-discount retailer offering primarily
"close-out" merchandise featuring a broad range of general household items
at multiple price points.  



Universal owns and operates 44 Only Deals retail stores in Minnesota and 
the surrounding upper Midwest region and eight stores in Texas.

     Universal owns approximately 41% of one of, and has a note receivable
of approximately $10.7 million due from, Odd's-N-End's, which operates 22
retail stores in upstate New York.

CONTACT:  99 Cents Only Stores, City of Commerce, CA
          Eric Schiffer, Senior Vice President - Finance
          (213) 881-9912

          Universal International, Inc., New Hope, MN
          Richard Ennen, President and Chief Executive Officer
          (800) 634-8349