Exhibit 23

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.:

        We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements (Nos. 33-51954, 333-36661, 333-36725, 333-46974, 333-65120, 333-118700, 333-139107, 333-156523, 333-160200, 333-169063, 333-178338 and 333-182655) on Form S-8 of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. of our reports dated April 13, 2016, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. and subsidiaries as of January 30, 2016 and January 31, 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive (loss) income, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended January 30, 2016, and the related financial statement schedule, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of January 30, 2016, which reports appear in the January 30, 2016 annual report on Form 10-K of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
April 13, 2016

QuickLinks

Exhibit 23