FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *   RECORD EDWARD J 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year) 05/14/2007 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol STAGE STORES INC [SSI] (Last) (First) (Middle) 10201 MAIN STREET 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP, Chief Admin. Officer 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) (Street) HOUSTON, TX 77025 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 4) 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4) 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5) Common Stock 30,000 (1) D Â

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.			SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)	05/14/2008(2)	05/14/2014	Common Stock	100,000 (2)	$ 19.96	D	Â

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
RECORD EDWARD J 10201 MAIN STREET HOUSTON, TX 77025	Â	Â	  EVP, Chief Admin. Officer	Â

Signatures

/s/ Edward J. Record		05/21/2007
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	On May 14, 2007, 30,000 shares of restricted common stock were granted. They will vest as follows: 10,000 shares on May 14, 2008; 10,000 shares on May 14, 2009; and 10,000 shares on May 14, 2010.
(2)	On May 14, 2007, Mr. Record was granted Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) with respect to a total of 100,000 shares of common stock. The grant price for the SARs is $19.96 per share of common stock. The SARs will vest at a rate of 25% per year on each of the first four anniversary dates from the date of grant. They will expire on the earlier of (i) sixty days after termination of employment, or (ii) seven years from the date of grant.

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