COLUMBUS, Ohio, August 9 /PRNewswire/-- (NYSE: VCD - news) announced today total sales for the four weeks ended August 4, 2001, increased 0.6% to $147.5 million from $146.7 million for the four weeks ended July 29, 2000. The company's same store sales decreased 6.3% for the four weeks ended August 4, 2001.

Sales for the 26 weeks ended August 4, 2001, increased 7.7% to $1,066.7 million from $990.3 million for the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2000. The company's same store sales decreased 4.2% for the 26 weeks ended August 4, 2001.

Retail sales statistics are as follows:


                                           4 Weeks Ended ($ in thousands)
                                         August 4, 2001       July 29, 2000
                                            $         %         $        %
     Total Sales
               Value City Department
                Stores                    $ 94,491   64.1    $101,166   69.0
               DSW Shoe Warehouse           33,982   23.0      27,734   18.9
               Filene's Basement            19,003   12.9      17,751   12.1
                                          $147,476  100.0    $146,651  100.0
     Comparable Sales Percentage
               Value City Department
                Stores                               (7.2)%              2.4 %
               DSW Shoe Warehouse                    (4.6)%             27.6 %
               Filene's Basement                     (3.6)%              n/a %
                                                     (6.3)%              6.1 %


                                        26 Weeks Ended ($ in thousands)
                                      August 4, 2001         July 29, 2000
                                         $         %           $        %
     Total Sales
              Value City Department
               Stores                   $681,601   63.9      $710,907   71.8
              DSW Shoe Warehouse         252,666   23.7       189,526   19.1
              Filene's Basement          132,426   12.4        89,866    9.1
                                      $1,066,693  100.0      $990,299  100.0
     Comparable Sales Percentage
              Value City Department
               Stores                              (6.8)%                1.3 %
              DSW Shoe Warehouse                    1.8 %               23.6 %
              Filene's Basement                     6.3 %*               n/a %
                                                   (4.2)%                4.8 %

    * Excludes sales from February and March 2001

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