Elder-Beerman Announces February Sales Results.

Business Editors

DAYTON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 2, 2000

The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. (Nasdaq/NMS:EBSC) today announced sales results for the four-week period ended February 26, 2000.

February total department store sales increased 2.8 percent to $39.1 million. On a comparable store basis, sales for Elder-Beerman department stores were flat compared to the same period last year. The best performing departments were cosmetics, ladies moderate sportswear, children's apparel, accessories, domestics and furniture.

The nation's eighth largest independent department store chain, The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. is headquartered in Dayton, Ohio and operates 62 stores in Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Elder-Beerman also operates two furniture superstores.

Note: See attached table of sales comparison figures.

(dollars in millions)                 FEBRUARY(a)

                                                Total      Comparable
                        2000        1999(b)     Sales        Sales
(unaudited)             Sales       Sales      Change(c)    Change

The Elder-Beerman
Stores Corp.            $39.1       $38.1       2.8%         0.0%

(a) All sales figures exclude leased departments sales of $1.34
million for February 2000 and $1.29 million in February 1999.

(b) Sales figures have been restated to reflect only ongoing
operations.

(c) Percentages may not correspond to the sales figures shown due to
rounding of sales figures.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," including predictions of future operating performance, events or developments such as our future sales, profits, expenses, income and earnings per share. In addition, words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "hopes," and "estimates," and variations of such words and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Because forward-looking statements are based on a number of beliefs, estimates and assumptions by management that could ultimately prove inaccurate, there is no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Many factors could materially affect our actual future operations and results, including the following: increasing price and product competition; fluctuations in consumer demand and confidence; the availability and mix of inventory; fluctuations in costs and expenses; the effectiveness of advertising, marketing and promotional programs; weather conditions that affect consumer traffic in stores; the continued availability and terms of financing; the ability to complete any pending asset disposition transactions; the outcome of pending and future litigation; consumer debt levels; and other general economic conditions that affect retail operations and sales, such as the rate of employment, inflation and interest rates and the condition of the capital markets.

Elder-Beerman undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.