99  CENTS ONLY STORES ANNOUNCES SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF THE SEC'S DIVISION OF
CORPORATE  FINANCE'S  REVIEW  AND  REPORTS  IT  WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO MAKE ANY
ADJUSTMENTS.

99  CENTS  ONLY  STORES  WILL  ISSUE ITS FOURTH QUARTER 2003 EARNINGS RELEASE ON
THURSDAY  MARCH  11,  2004.

      CITY OF COMMERCE, CA - March 8, 2004 -- 99 Cents Only Stores(R) (NYSE:NDN)
announced  today  the  completion  of  the  review  by  the  SEC's  Division  of
Corporation  Finance  of  the  Company's  2002  Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs for the
quarters ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2003. The Company will not be
required  to  make any adjustments to previously reported periods as a result of
this  review.
      The  Company  had  previously  delayed  its  fourth  quarter 2003 earnings
release  and  conference  call as a result of matters raised in a comment letter
from the Division of Corporation Finance regarding the accounting related to the
disposition  of Universal International, and pending finalization of an increase
to  its  California  workers'  compensation  reserve  for  year-end  2003.
      The  Division  of  Corporate  Finance  was  satisfied  with  the Company's
response to their comment letter. The Company has also finalized its increase to
its  California  workers'  compensation  reserve  for  year-end  2003.
      On  Thursday  March  11, 2004, the Company will release its fourth quarter
2003 earnings at 1:30PM Pacific Time and conduct its earnings conference call at
2:30PM  Pacific  Time. The conference call call-in number will be announced in a
release later today. The Company plans to report earnings per share of $0.21 for
the  fourth  quarter  of  2003.
      99  Cents  Only  Stores,  the nation's oldest existing one-price retailer,
operates  194  retail  stores  in  California,  Texas,  Arizona and Nevada and a
wholesale  division  called  Bargain  Wholesale. 99 Cents Only Stores emphasizes
name-brand  consumables,  priced  at  an  excellent  value,  in  attractively
merchandised  stores.
      This  press  release contains forward-looking statements, as referenced in
the  Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act  of  1995  (the  "Act").
Forward-looking  statements  are  inherently  unreliable  and actual results may
differ. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these
forward-looking  statements  include,  changes  in the competitive market place,
general  economic  conditions, factors affecting the retail industry in general,
the  timing  of  new  store openings, the ability of the Company to identify and
obtain leases for new stores, the ability of the Company to acquire inventory at
favorable  costs,  and other factors discussed in the Company's filings with the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission.  The  Company undertakes no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new  information,  future  events  or  otherwise.