Investor Contact:

Joe Carter, Venture Stores, Inc.

(314) 281-7800

Media Contact:

Randy Myers or Tom Goyda, Shandwick

(314) 436-6565

For Immediate Release

O'Fallon, MO, June 6, 1997 -- Venture Stores, Inc. today reported total sales for the four weeks ending May 24, 1997 of $93.9 million, a decline of 11.3 percent from sales of $106.0 million for the four weeks ending May 25, 1996. Comparable store sales for the month decreased 15.1 percent.

For the 17 weeks ending May 24, 1997, total sales were $408.4 million compared with $457.2 million for the four months ended May 25, 1996, a decrease of 10.7 percent. Comparable store sales through May declined 12.0 percent.

"We believe that our strategy to reposition Venture as a family value retailer is sound, but it will take some time to rebuild the momentum we had gained at the beginning of 1997," explained Robert N. Wildrick, Venture's chairman and chief executive officer. "Although the new credit facility Venture obtained in April has had a positive impact on merchandise flow, May sales continue to show the effects of disruptions in shipments in certain areas."

Venture currently operates 113 family value stores in nine states. Venture's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol VEN.