Exhibit 99.1

           The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend

    YORK, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 2003--The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
(Nasdaq: BONT) today announced the Board of Directors declared a cash
dividend of 2 1/2 cents per share on the Class A Common Stock and
Common Stock of the Company payable January 15, 2004 to shareholders
of record as of January 1, 2004.
    James H. Baireuther, Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative
Officer, commented, "We are pleased to announce this cash dividend to
our shareholders. As we indicated when we announced our dividends for
each of the first and second quarters, our liquidity and strong
balance sheet allow us to provide this avenue of return to our
shareholders. Our Board of Directors will consider dividends in
subsequent periods as it deems appropriate."
    The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. operates 142 department stores in sixteen
states from the northeast to the midwest under the names of Bon-Ton
and Elder-Beerman. The stores carry a broad assortment of quality,
brand-name fashion apparel and accessories for women, men and
children, as well as distinctive home furnishings. The Bon-Ton enjoys
a strong reputation for providing quality merchandise at competitive
prices delivered with top-quality service in targeted markets.

    Statements made in this press release, other than statements of
historical information, are forward looking statements and are made
pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and
uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those
set forth in these statements. Factors that could cause such
differences include, but are not limited to, risks related to retail
businesses generally, our ability to integrate the recently acquired
Elder-Beerman stores into our over-all operations, additional
competition from existing and new competitors, uncertainties
associated with opening new stores or expanding or remodeling existing
stores, the Company's presence in and dependence on limited geographic
markets, the ability to attract and retain qualified management, the
dependence upon key vendor relationships and the ability to obtain
financing for working capital, capital expenditures and general
corporate purposes. Additional factors that could cause the Company's
actual results to differ from those contained in these forward looking
statements are discussed in greater detail in the Company's periodic
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


    CONTACT: The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
             Corporate Communications
             Mary Kerr, 717-751-3071