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 21, 2003


                              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)                     (Zip Code)


  Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (323) 980-8145



ITEM 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

        (c)     Exhibits

                Exhibit No.     Description

                99.1            Press release dated October 21, 2003

ITEM 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

     On October 21, 2003, 99 Cents Only Stores (the "Company") issued a press
release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended September 30,
2003.  A copy of the October 21, 2003 press release is attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.  The information in this
Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed "filed"
for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section,
nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, regardless of any
general incorporation language in such a filing.


                                   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.

                                            99(cent)ONLY STORES



Date:  October 21, 2003                     By:  /S/ ANDREW FARINA


                                          ---------------------------------
                                            Andrew Farina
                                            Chief Financial Officer



                         EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit No.     Description
99.1            Press release dated October 21, 2003