UNITED STATES
                       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):  May 19, 2005
                                                           --------------

                            THE BON-TON STORES, INC.
                     ---------------------------------------
                 (Exact Name of Registrant Specified in Charter)


      Pennsylvania                   0-19517                   23-2835229
    -----------------              ------------            -----------------
     (State or Other             (Commission File          (I.R.S. Employer
     Jurisdiction of                  Number)              Identification No.)
      Incorporation)


               2801 E. Market Street
                 York, Pennsylvania                               17402
     -------------------------------------------              --------------
       (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                 (Zip Code)


        Registrants telephone number, including area code:  (717) 757-7660
                                                           ----------------

     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

   __  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
       CFR 230.425)
   __  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
       CFR 240.14a-12)
   __  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
       Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
   __  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
       Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e4(c))





Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

     On May 19, 2005, The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. issued a press release announcing
its results of operations and financial condition for the fiscal quarter ended
April 30, 2005. The full text of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit
99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

     The information in this Report, including the exhibit attached hereto, is
furnished solely pursuant to Item 2.02 of this Form 8-K. Consequently, it is not
deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. It may only be
incorporated by reference in another filing under the Exchange Act or Securities
Act of 1933 if such subsequent filing specifically references this Form 8-K.


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (c)   Exhibits

     99.1  Press Release issued May 19, 2005 regarding financial results for the
fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2005.


                                    SIGNATURE


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                         The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.


                                         By: /s/ Keith E. Plowman
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Keith E. Plowman
                                             Senior Vice President, Finance
                                             and Principal Accounting Officer


Dated: May 19, 2005