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 25, 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)


       Registrant's 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 8.01.  Other Events

         On May 25, 2005, The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. issued a press release
announcing the declaration of a cash dividend on the Class A Common Stock and
Common Stock of the Company. The full text of the press release is attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (c)   Exhibits

         99.1 Press Release issued May 25, 2005 regarding declaration of a cash
dividend on the Class A Common Stock and Common Stock of the Company.


                                    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, Chief Financial
                                        Officer and Principal Accounting Officer


Dated: May 27, 2005