The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. Announces December Sales.

~Bon-Ton Comparable Stores Sales decreased 5.8% for the Month~

~Carson's Comparable Store Sales increased 4.5% for the Month~

~Bon-Ton and Carson's Combined Comparable Store Sales increased 0.3% for the Month~

YORK, Pa. -- The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: BONT) today announced total sales for the five weeks ended December 30, 2006 increased 147% to $642.0 million compared to $259.9 million for the same period last year. December sales include $401.9 million from the Carson's and Parisian stores. Bon-Ton comparable store sales decreased 5.8%.

Year-to-date total sales increased 155% to $3,121.7 million compared to $1,224.4 million for the prior year period. Year-to-date sales include $1,957.9 million from the Carson's stores for the period March 5, 2006 through December 30, 2006 and Parisian stores for the period October 29, 2006 through December 30, 2006. Year-to-date Bon-Ton comparable store sales decreased 3.1%.

Carson's sales are not included in the Company's reported comparable store sales; therefore, the following is provided for informational purposes only. Carson's comparable store sales for the five weeks ended December 30, 2006 increased 4.5% and for the period March 5, 2006 through December 30, 2006 increased 4.6%. For Carson's and Bon-Ton combined, comparable store sales for the five weeks ended December 30, 2006 increased 0.3%.

Anthony J. Buccina, Vice Chairman and President - Merchandising, commented, "We were pleased with our overall results for December. The best performing categories for December on a combined company basis were Children's, Furniture, Junior's, Shoes, Women's Large-Size and Petite Sportswear. Our weaker performing categories were Soft Home, Accessories and Intimate Apparel. As a result of the unseasonably warm temperatures, sales in the cold weather categories of men's and women's outerwear and accessories were below expectations. We are comfortable with our current inventory level."

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. operates 283 stores, which includes eight furniture galleries, in 23 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's and Younkers nameplates and, under the Parisian nameplate, one store in each of Indianapolis, Indiana and Dayton, Ohio and two stores in the Detroit, Michigan area. The stores offer a broad assortment of brand-name fashion apparel and accessories for women, men and children, as well as cosmetics and home furnishings. For further information, please visit the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.bonton.com/investor/home.asp.

Statements made in this press release, other than statements of historical information are forward-looking and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, risks related to retail businesses generally, additional competition from existing and new competitors, uncertainties associated with opening new stores or expanding or remodeling existing stores, risks related to the Company's integration of the business and operations comprising the recently-acquired Carson's and Parisian stores, the ability to attract and retain qualified management, the dependence upon key vendor relationships and the ability to obtain financing for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. Additional factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ from those contained in these forward-looking statements are discussed in greater detail in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.