Exhibit 99.1

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. Announces First Quarter of Fiscal 2012 Results

~ First Quarter Net Loss of $2.23 Per Diluted Share ~

~ Company Revises Guidance Range for Fiscal 2012 ~

YORK, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 17, 2012--The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: BONT) today reported results for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 ended April 28, 2012.

First Quarter Highlights

• Comparable store sales decreased 1.3%.
• Gross margin rate was 34.3% of net sales compared with 35.5% in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.
• Operating loss totaled $18.5 million, compared with an operating loss of $2.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.
• EBITDA was $4.8 million, compared with $23.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. EBITDA is not a measure recognized under generally accepted accounting principles (see Note 1).
• Net loss totaled $40.8 million, or $2.23 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $36.0 million, or $2.01 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2011. The first quarter of fiscal 2012 includes a net gain of $1.9 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, related to the Company’s sale of certain Rochester, NY locations and subsequent prepayment penalty on the extinguishment of its related mortgage debt. The first quarter of fiscal 2012 also reflects a charge of $2.8 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for severance costs related to targeted reductions to the Company’s cost structure. The first quarter of fiscal 2011 includes a charge of $9.5 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, associated with the voluntary prepayment of the Company’s second lien term loan and the refinancing of its revolving credit facility.

Comments

Brendan Hoffman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Sales from the shift of our Community Day event from February to the end of April exceeded the prior year, but we believe it had an overall negative impact on April sales leading up to the event. We responded quickly with aggressive markdowns, and liquidated a higher level of transitional and carry-over inventory, resulting in gross margin erosion. As we look ahead, we are identifying and implementing initiatives which we believe will lead to improved performance. These initiatives include continued evaluation of and adjustment to our merchandise assortment, reallocation of floor space to higher growth categories, greater focus on smaller markets, enhancements to our marketing programs, growth of profitable sales in eCommerce and changes to our operating structure.”

Mr. Hoffman continued, “We are taking appropriate actions to reduce our cost structure and improve efficiency as we implement initiatives to drive top-line growth, control inventory levels in response to sales trends, correct ineffective marketing programs and simplify promotions to improve the overall shopping experience for our customers. While we previously discussed approximately $10 million of cost reductions in our fiscal 2012 guidance, we continue to identify and make additional targeted reductions in administrative and support functions. These additional initiatives are expected to reduce costs, primarily selling, general and administrative expenses, on a full-year basis in excess of $30 million, with an estimated benefit to fiscal 2012 of approximately $20 million. The one-time costs associated with these initiatives, including severance, are estimated to be approximately $3 million, which does not include the $2.8 million recorded in the first quarter. We believe our successful execution of these initiatives will drive sales productivity and profitability.”

Net Sales

First quarter of fiscal 2012 comparable store sales decreased 1.3%. First quarter of fiscal 2012 total sales decreased 1.4% to $640.8 million, compared with $649.9 million for the same period last year.

Other Income

Other income in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was $13.5 million, compared with $14.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.

Gross Margin

In the first quarter of fiscal 2012, gross margin dollars decreased $11.1 million to $219.6 million, compared with $230.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. The gross margin rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 decreased to 34.3% of net sales from 35.5% of net sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. The decline in the gross margin rate primarily reflects an increased net markdown rate as we responded to slower sales in the period.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense (“SG&A”)

SG&A expense increased $6.2 million to $228.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, compared with $222.0 million in the prior year period. The SG&A expense rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 increased to 35.6% of net sales, compared with 34.2% in the prior year period. The increase in SG&A expense primarily represents increased store expenses, marketing expenditures, insurance costs, retirement benefits and severance costs, partially offset by the gain on sale of certain Rochester, NY locations.

EBITDA

EBITDA decreased $18.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 to $4.8 million, compared with $23.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. EBITDA is not a measure recognized under generally accepted accounting principles (see Note 1).

Depreciation and Amortization / Amortization of Lease-related Interests

Depreciation and amortization expense, including amortization of lease-related interests, decreased $2.3 million to $23.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, compared with $25.7 million in the prior year period. The decrease is primarily due to a reduced asset base.

Interest Expense, Net

In the first quarter of fiscal 2012, interest expense, net, decreased $2.7 million to $20.6 million, compared with $23.3 million in the prior year period. The decrease primarily reflects reduced borrowings and interest rates.

Loss on Extinguishment of Debt

In the first quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company recorded a $1.2 million loss on extinguishment of debt, primarily related to the prepayment penalty on the mortgage payoff associated with the sale of certain of its Rochester, NY locations. In the first quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company recorded a $9.5 million loss on the extinguishment of debt for fees associated with the voluntary prepayment of the second lien term loan and the amendment and restatement of the revolving credit facility agreement.

Income Tax Provision

An income tax provision of $0.5 million was recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, compared with an income tax provision of $0.7 million in the prior year period.

Guidance

Keith Plowman, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, stated, “As noted in the Company’s May sales release, our excess borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility was $400 million at the end of April. Our revised fiscal 2012 guidance for EBITDA is a range of $160 million to $190 million, for (loss) earnings per diluted share a range of $(0.95) to $0.50 and for cash flow (see Note 2) a range of $35 million to $60 million. Assumptions reflected in our full-year guidance include the following:

• Comparable store sales in a range of a negative 1.5% to a positive 1.0%;
• Gross margin rate in a range of 36.0% to 36.5%;
• SG&A expense increase of approximately $7 million to $12 million from fiscal 2011, reflecting the discussed expense reduction initiatives, net of one-time costs;

• Tax rate of 39%;
• Capital expenditures not to exceed $70 million, net of external contributions; and
• Estimated 19 million to 20 million average diluted shares outstanding.”

Note: Earnings per share guidance does not reflect any (non-cash) income tax benefit of reducing the valuation allowance currently recorded for deferred tax assets. The amount of such adjustment, if any, cannot be determined until our fiscal 2012 results are final.

Conference Call Details

The Company’s quarterly conference call to discuss first quarter fiscal 2012 results will be broadcast live today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (888) 256-9075 at 9:55 a.m. Eastern time. A taped replay of the conference call will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call and will remain available through Thursday, May 31, 2012. The number to call for the taped replay is (877) 870-5176 and the conference PIN is 2696094. The conference call will also be broadcast on the Company’s website at http://investors.bonton.com. An online archive of the webcast will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call and will remain available through Thursday, May 31, 2012.

About The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., with corporate headquarters in York, Pennsylvania and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operates 272 department stores, which includes 11 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, in the Detroit, Michigan area, under the Parisian nameplate. The stores offer a broad assortment of national and private brand 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 http://investors.bonton.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information included in this press release contains statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “plan,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend” or other similar expressions, involve important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, risks related to retail businesses generally; a significant and prolonged deterioration of general economic conditions which could negatively impact the Company, including the potential write-down of the current valuation of intangible assets and deferred taxes; changes in the terms of the Company’s proprietary credit card program; potential increase in pension obligations; consumer spending patterns, debt levels, and the availability and cost of consumer credit; additional competition from existing and new competitors; inflation; deflation; changes in the costs of fuel and other energy and transportation costs; weather conditions that could negatively impact sales; uncertainties associated with expanding or remodeling existing stores; the ability to attract and retain qualified management; the dependence upon relationships with vendors and their factors; a data security breach or system failure; the ability to reduce or control SG&A expenses, including initiatives to reduce expenses and improve efficiency; operational disruptions; unsuccessful marketing initiatives; the failure to successfully implement our key strategies, including initiatives to improve our merchandising, marketing and operations; adverse outcomes in litigation; the incurrence of unplanned capital expenditures; the ability to obtain financing for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purpose; the impact of new regulatory requirements including the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 and the Health Care Reform Act; the inability or limitations on the Company’s ability to favorably adjust the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets; and the financial condition of mall operators. 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 under Item 1A of the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Note 1: As used in this release, EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, including amortization of lease-related interests, and loss on extinguishment of debt. EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). However, we present EBITDA in this release because we consider it to be an important supplemental measure of our performance and because it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate the performance of companies in our industry and by some investors to determine a company’s ability to service or incur debt. In addition, our management uses EBITDA internally to compare the profitability of our stores. EBITDA is not calculated in the same manner by all companies and, accordingly, is not necessarily comparable to similarly entitled measures of other companies and may not be an appropriate measure for performance relative to other companies. EBITDA should not be assessed in isolation from or construed as a substitute for net income or cash flows from operations, which are prepared in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA is not intended to represent, and should not be considered to be a more meaningful measure than, or an alternative to, measures of operating performance as determined in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of net loss to EBITDA is provided in the financial schedules accompanying this release.

Note 2: As used in this release, cash flow reflects the forecasted net income (loss), plus depreciation and amortization, amortization of lease-related interests, and the proprietary credit card program signing bonus, less capital expenditures and pension contributions.

CONTACT:
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
Mary Kerr, 717-751-3071
Vice President
Investor and Public Relations
mkerr@bonton.com