Elder-Beerman Announces March Sales Results.

Business Editors

DAYTON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 6, 2000

The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. (Nasdaq/NMS:EBSC) today announced sales results for the five-week period ended April 1, 2000.

March total department store sales decreased 6.9 percent to $53.7 million compared to the same period last year. On a comparable store basis, sales for Elder-Beerman department stores decreased 9.3 percent compared to the same period last year. The company indicated that March sales were affected by a three-week shift of Easter from early April in 1999 to late April this year, as well as by shifts in the timing of two promotional events. The company added that this shift in Easter and promotional events necessitates consideration of combined March - April sales to obtain a complete picture of the company's spring sales performance.

The nation's ninth 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)                    MARCH 2000(a)
----------------------- ----------------------------------------------
                         2000     1999       Total        Comparable
(unaudited)              Total    Total      Sales          Sales
                         Sales    Sales(c)  Change(d)      Change
----------------------- -------- --------- ----------- ---------------
The Elder-Beerman        $53.7    $57.7      (6.9%)        (9.3%)
Stores Corp.
----------------------- -------- --------- ----------- ---------------

----------------------- ----------------------------------------------
(dollars in millions)                  2000 YEAR TO DATE(b)
----------------------- ----------------------------------------------
                         2000     1999       Total        Comparable
(unaudited)              Total    Total      Sales          Sales
                         Sales    Sales(c)  Change(d)      Change
----------------------- -------- --------- ----------- ---------------
The Elder-Beerman        $92.8    $95.7      (3.1%)        (5.6%)
Stores Corp.
----------------------- -------- --------- ----------- ---------------

(a) All sales figures exclude March 2000 leased departments sales of
$1.4 million and March 1999 leased departments sales of $1.5 million.

(b) All sales figures exclude year to date 2000 leased department
sales of $2.7 million and year to date 1999 leased department sales of
$2.8 million.

(c) Sales figures have been restated to reflect only continuing
operations.

(d) 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.