COLUMBUS, Ohio, August 28 /PRNewswire/-- (NYSE: VCD - news) today announced financial results for the quarter ended August 4, 2001.

Sales for the second quarter increased 1.6% to $536.5 million from $528.2 million. Same store sales decreased 4.5%. The Company's net loss for the quarter was $5.8 million, or $0.17 per share, versus a net income of $0.1 million, or zero per share for last year's quarter.

Sales for the six months ended August 4, 2001, increased 7.7% to $1,066.6 million from $990.3 million. Same store sales decreased 4.2%. The Company's net loss for the six months was $13.6 million, or $0.40 per share, versus net income of $0.1 million, or zero per share in the prior year to date period.

The Company also announced that Schottenstein Stores Corporation has agreed to immediately increase its line of credit under the Value City Subordinated Credit Facility from $50.0 million to $100.0 million. The necessary verbal approvals from the bank group have been received as required under the Company's senior credit facility.

Value City Department Stores, Inc. is a leading off-price retailer, currently operating 118 full-line department stores in the midwest, mid- Atlantic and southeastern U.S., 19 Filene's Basement stores primarily in the northeastern U.S. as well as 90 better-branded, off-price DSW Shoe Warehouse stores in major metropolitan areas throughout the country.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The Company cautions that members of management may make certain forward- looking statements based on the Company's current expectations or beliefs. We caution investors that our actual results may differ materially from our current expectation and beliefs based on the risk factors described in the reports we file with the SEC.


                VALUE CITY DEPARTMENT STORES, INC. (NYSE: VCD - news)
               (in millions except per share and footnote data)
                                 (unaudited)

                              Second Quarter Ended         Six Months Ended
                               8/04/01    7/29/00         8/04/01    7/29/00

    NET OWNED SALES            $536.5     $528.2         $1,066.6     $990.3

    NET (LOSS) INCOME           $(5.8)      $0.1           $(13.6)      $0.1

    BASIC AND DILUTED (LOSS)
      EARNINGS PER SHARE       $(0.17)     $0.00           $(0.40)     $0.00

    WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
      OUTSTANDING (a)            33.5       33.5             33.5       33.4
    SHARES USED FOR
      DILUTED EPS (a)            33.5       33.7             33.5       33.6


    (a) Excludes 7,681 treasury shares at August 4, 2001 and July 29, 2000.


                       VALUE CITY DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                    (in thousands, except per share amounts)
                                  (unaudited)

                                                 Three months ended
                                          August 4, 2001      July 29, 2000


      Net sales                           536,477            528,246
      Cost of sales                      (330,876)          (327,958)
           Gross profit                   205,601    38.3%   200,288    37.9%

      Selling, general and
       administrative expenses           (211,288)  -39.4%  (197,063)  -37.3%
      License fees from affiliates and
       other operating income               4,233     0.8%     3,887     0.7%
           Operating (loss) profit         (1,454)   -0.3%     7,112     1.3%

      Interest expense, net                (8,058)   -1.5%    (7,963)   -1.5%
      Gain on sale of assets, net               4     0.0%       861     0.2%
        (Loss) income before equity
          in loss of joint venture
          and benefit (provision)
          for income taxes                 (9,508)   -1.8%        10     0.0%

      Equity in loss of joint venture        (328)   -0.1%       107     0.0%
        (Loss) income before benefit
          (provision) for income taxes     (9,836)   -1.8%       117     0.0%

      Benefit (provision) for income
       taxes                                4,065     0.8%       (49)    0.0%
      Net (loss) income                   ($5,771)   -1.1%       $68     0.0%

      Basic and diluted (loss) earnings
       per share                           ($0.17)             $0.00


      Same store sales percent
         Value City Department Stores        (7.2)%             (1.0)%
         DSW Shoe Warehouse                   1.3 %             26.8 %
         Filene's Basement                    2.8 %              N/A
          Total consolidated                 (4.5)%              3.2 %


                       VALUE CITY DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                    (in thousands, except per share amounts)
                                  (unaudited)

                                                  Six months ended
                                          August 4, 2001      July 29, 2000


      Net sales                         1,066,591            990,299
      Cost of sales                      (659,098)          (612,279)
           Gross profit                   407,493    38.2%   378,020    38.2%

      Selling, general and
       administrative expenses           (419,801)  -39.4%  (371,255)  -37.5%
      License fees from affiliates and
       other operating income               6,840     0.6%     6,083     0.6%
           Operating (loss) profit         (5,468)   -0.5%    12,848     1.3%

      Interest expense, net               (16,494)   -1.5%   (13,318)   -1.3%
      Gain on sale of assets, net               5     0.0%       841     0.1%
        (Loss) income before equity
          in loss of joint venture
          and benefit (provision)
          for income taxes                (21,957)   -2.1%       371     0.0%

      Equity in loss of joint venture      (1,211)   -0.1%      (161)    0.0%
        (Loss) income before benefit
          (provision) for income taxes    (23,168)   -2.2%       210     1.4%

      Benefit (provision) for income
       taxes                                9,598     0.9%       (87)    0.0%
      Net (loss) income                  ($13,570)   -1.3%      $123     0.0%


      Basic and diluted (loss) earnings
       per share                           ($0.40)             $0.00


      Same store sales percent
        Value City Department Stores         (6.8)%              1.3 %
        DSW Shoe Warehouse                    1.8 %             23.6 %
        Filene's Basement                     6.3 %              N/A
          Total consolidated                 (4.2)%              4.8 %


                      VALUE CITY DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.
                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                (in thousands)
                                 (unaudited)

                                                   August 4,         July 29,
                                                     2001              2000

        ASSETS
        Current assets:
          Cash and equivalents                     $23,124            $15,146
          Inventories                              446,955            598,912
          Other current assets                      97,979             54,747
             Total current assets                  568,058            668,805
        Property, net                              243,498            236,544
        Other noncurrent assets                    113,465            140,769
             Total assets                         $925,021         $1,046,118


        LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
        Total current liabilities                  294,218            389,610
        Total long-term liabilities                394,590            305,453
          Total liabilities                        688,808            695,063
          Total shareholders' equity               236,213            351,055
              Total liabilities and
                shareholders' equity              $925,021         $1,046,118


Value City Department Stores, Inc. is a leading off-price retailer currently operating 119 full-line department stores in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and southeastern U.S., 19 Filene's Basement Stores and 89 better- branded DSW Shoe Warehouse Stores in major metropolitan areas throughout the country.



For More Information Contact:

James McGrady
Phone: (614) 478-2300
Value City Department Stores, Inc.
3241 Westerville Road, Columbus, OH 43224