Exhibit 99.1

            PAYLESS SHOESOURCE REPORTS APRIL SAME-STORE SALES RESULTS

     TOPEKA, Kan., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Payless ShoeSource, Inc.
(NYSE: PSS) today reported that same-store sales decreased 2.8 percent during
the April reporting period, the four weeks ended April 30, 2005. Sales in
April reflect the negative effect of the shift in Easter to March 2005 from
mid-April last year. All data in this press release relate to continuing
operations.

     Company sales totaled $242.5 million, a 4.4 percent decrease from
$253.8 million during fiscal April of last year.
    Total sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 were $695.2 million, a
0.4 percent increase from $692.3 million during the similar period in fiscal
2004.

     Same-store sales increased 2.7 percent during the first quarter of the
fiscal year.

     Sales were as follows (unaudited):

                       APRIL SALES* (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)

                                  Percent         Same-Store Sales***
      Fiscal         Fiscal        Increase/       Percent
      2005**         2004**        (Decrease)      Increase/(Decrease)
     --------       --------       ----------      -------------------
     $  242.5       $  253.8             (4.4)%                   (2.8)%

                    FIRST QUARTER SALES* (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)

                                   Percent         Same-Store Sales***
      Fiscal         Fiscal        Increase/       Percent
      2005**         2004**        (Decrease)      Increase/(Decrease)
     --------       --------       ----------      -------------------
     $  695.2       $  692.3              0.4%                     2.7%

     *   Sales from continuing operations.

     **  The fiscal year for operations in the company's Latin American region
         and Japan is based on a December 31 year-end.  Operations in the
         company's Latin American region (178 stores) and Japan are included
         in total company results on a one-month lag relative to results from
         other regions.

     *** Same-store sales represent sales of those stores in the United
         States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam and Saipan that were open during
         both periods.  Same-store-sales exclude stores in the company's Latin
         American region.

     "We are pleased with our April results, particularly considering the
Easter shift," said Steven J. Douglass, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Payless ShoeSource, Inc.  "Sales exceeded our expectations for two of the
three months of the first quarter.  It is clear that customers have reacted
positively to the company's spring merchandise, to-date."



     "As a result of the solid performance in April, Payless met its objective
of low-single digit positive same-store sales during the first quarter for the
second consecutive year.  Looking forward, Payless ShoeSource remains
committed to its long-standing goal to continue to achieve low single-digit
positive same-store sales on a consistent basis, through successful execution
of our merchandise authority strategy."

     The company intends to report financial results for the first quarter 2005
on Thursday, May 19, 2005.

     Payless ShoeSource, Inc. is the largest specialty family footwear retailer
in the Western Hemisphere.  As of the end of April 2005, the Company operated
a total of 4,646 stores offering quality family footwear and accessories at
affordable prices.  In addition, customers can buy shoes over the Internet
through Payless.com(R), at http://www.payless.com .

     This release contains forward-looking statements relating to anticipated
financial performance.  A variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties
and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the
anticipated results or expectations.  Please refer to the company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2005 for more
information on risk factors that could cause actual results to differ. The
company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to
such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the
date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

     For additional information regarding April 2005 sales performance, please
call the Payless ShoeSource Investor Relations phone line at 1-800-626-3204.
Select submenu 1, option 2.  Or, visit our Investor Relations website at
http://www.paylessinfo.com .

SOURCE  Payless ShoeSource, Inc.
    -0-                             05/05/2005
    /CONTACT:  Timothy J. Reid of Payless ShoeSource, Inc., +1-785-295-6695/
    /Company News On-Call:  http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/136152.html/
    /Web site:  http://www.paylessinfo.com /