Exhibit 99

              Dillard's, Inc. Purchases McRae's Store at
                   The Mall of Louisiana from Belk


    LITTLE ROCK, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 18, 2005--Dillard's, Inc.
(NYSE: DDS) ("Dillard's" or the "Company") announced today that it has
an agreement to purchase the McRae's store at the Mall of Louisiana in
Baton Rouge, Louisiana from Belk. The transaction is scheduled to
close on November 28, 2005.
    Dillard's, which currently operates a 200,000 square foot location
at The Mall of Louisiana, plans to operate at the center under its
dual-anchor format. Following an extensive remodel of the store and
operating both anchor locations, Dillard's will present Baton Rouge
area customers with a much broader selection of merchandise in deeper
assortments in all areas of the store. These selections will reflect
the Company's renewed focus on more upscale and more contemporary
fashions. The Company expects to reopen the new store under the
Dillard's name in the spring of 2006.
    Belk, which acquired the McRae's store in July as part of its
purchase of 47 Proffitt's and McRae's stores from Saks Incorporated,
was obligated to sell the store to Dillard's because of a previous
contractual agreement between McRae's and Dillard's giving Dillard's
purchase rights to the store at The Mall of Louisiana.
    Dillard's, Inc. is one of the nation's largest fashion apparel and
home furnishing retailers. The Company's stores operate with one name,
Dillard's, and span 29 states. Dillard's stores offer a broad
selection of merchandise, including products sourced and marketed
under Dillard's exclusive brand names.


    CONTACT: Dillard's, Inc., Little Rock
             Julie J. Bull, 501-376-5965