Sec Form 4 Filing - SALMON WALTER J @ STAGE STORES INC - 2005-06-02

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person SALMON WALTER J 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol STAGE STORES INC [ STGS] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 10201 MAIN STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 06/02/2005 (Street) HOUSTON, TX77025 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 39.07 06/02/2005 A 2,500 ( 1 ) 06/02/2007( 1 ) 06/02/2012( 1 ) Common Stock 2,500 $ 0 27,500 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other SALMON WALTER J 10201 MAIN STREET HOUSTON, TX77025 X Signatures /s/ Walter Salmon 06/06/2005 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Options to purchase 2,500 shares of the Company's common stock were issued on June 2, 2005 with a per share exercise price of $39.07. The term of these stock options is seven (7) years from the date of the grant (the "Option Term"). These stock options may not be exercised after the expiration of the Option Term (June 2, 2012). These stock options shall vest and become exercisable according to the following schedule: (1) two years from the date of grant (June 2, 2007), 50% of options may be exercised and (2) four years from the date of grant (June 2, 2009), 100% of the options may be exercised.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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