Investor Contact:
Russell Solt, Venture Stores, Inc.
(314) 281-6121

Media Contact:
Randy Myers or Tom Goyda, Shandwick
(314) 436-6565

For Immediate Release :

O'Fallon, Mo., January 8, 1998 -- Venture Stores, Inc. today reported that same-store sales for the five weeks ended December 27, 1997 decreased 9.0 percent compared with the five weeks ended December 28, 1996. Total sales for December 1997 were $208.5 million, a decrease of 24.2 percent from the same period in 1996.

Total sales for the 48 weeks ended December 27, 1997 were $1,239.5 million compared with $1,410.7 million for the same period last year, a decrease of 12.1 percent.

Venture also indicated that it expects to report a fourth quarter net loss applicable to common shareholders, before LIFO charges, in the range of $29.3 million, or $1.60 per share, to $36.6 million, or $2.00 per share. In the fourth quarter of 1996, the company reported a net loss applicable to common shareholders, before nonrecurring and LIFO charges, of $15.0 million, or 80 cents per share.

Venture operates 93 family value stores in nine states. Venture's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol VEN.