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 6, 1998


                              99 CENTS 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)

                                 (213) 980-8145
                         (Registrant's Telephone Number)




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ITEM 5.           OTHER EVENTS

         Reference  is made to the  press  releases  of  Registrant,  issued  on
October 6, 1998 and October 26,  1998,  which  contain  information  meeting the
requirements  of  this  Item  5,  and  which  are  incorporated  herein  by this
reference.  Copies of these  press  releases  are  attached  to this Form 8-K as
Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2.



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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 26, 1998                           99 CENTS ONLY STORES




                                       By: /s/ Andy Farina
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Andy Farina
                                           Chief Financial Officer










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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX                

Exhibits                                                         Page Number


99.1              Press Release dated October 6, 1998.

99.2              Press Release dated October 26, 1998.




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