SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                SCHEDULE 13G/A
                                (Rule 13d-102)


            INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
          TO RULES 13d-1(b)(c), AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
                           PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b)

                             (Amendment No. 1)(1)


                               Stage Stores Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               (Name of Issuer)


                    Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        (Title of Class of Securities)


                                   85254C305
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (CUSIP Number)


                               December 31, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)


     Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:

          [_]  Rule 13d-1(b)

          [x]  Rule 13d-1(c)

          [_]  Rule 13d-1(d)


----------
(1)  The  remainder  of this cover  page  shall be filled out for a  reporting
     person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
     securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
     would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The  information  required  in the  remainder  of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be  subject to all other  provisions  of the Act  (however,  see the
Notes).





CUSIP No.   85254C305
            ---------------------


1.   NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
     I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

     Jeffrey Feinberg
     c/o JLF Asset Management, LLC

2.   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                                 (a)  [_]
                                                                 (b)  [x]

3.   SEC USE ONLY



4.   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

     United States

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH

5.   SOLE VOTING POWER

     0

6.   SHARED VOTING POWER

     0

7.   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

     0

8.   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

     0

9.   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

     0

10.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

                                                                          [_]

11.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

     0

12.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

     IN

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!





CUSIP No. 85254C305
          ---------------------


Item 1(a).  Name of Issuer:


            Stage Stores Inc.

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Item 1(b).  Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:


            10201 Main Street
            Houston, TX  77025

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Item 2(a).  Name of Person Filing:


            Jeffrey Feinberg
            c/o JLF Asset Management, LLC

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Item 2(b).  Address of Principal Business Office, or if None, Residence:


            153 E. 53rd Street, 51st Floor
            New York, New York  10022

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Item 2(c).  Citizenship:


            United States

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Item 2(d).  Title of Class of Securities:


            Common Stock, par value, $.01 per share

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Item 2(e).  CUSIP Number:


            85254C305

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Item 3.  If This Statement is Filed  Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b),  or 13d-2(b) or
         (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a:

     (a)  [_] Broker or dealer  registered  under  Section 15 of the  Exchange
              Act.

     (b)  [_] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.

     (c)  [_] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange
              Act.

     (d)  [_] Investment  company registered under Section 8 of the Investment
              Company Act.

     (e)  [_] An    investment    adviser    in    accordance    with   Rule
              13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

     (f)  [_] An employee  benefit plan or endowment  fund in accordance  with
              Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

     (g)  [_] A parent holding  company or control  person in accordance  with
              Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

     (h)  [_] A savings  association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal
              Deposit Insurance Act;

     (i)  [_] A  church  plan  that is  excluded  from  the  definition  of an
              investment  company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
              Company Act;

     (j)  [_] Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

Item 4.  Ownership.

     Provide the following  information  regarding  the  aggregate  number and
percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.

     (a)  Amount beneficially owned:

          0

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     (b)  Percent of class:

          0%

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     (c)  Number of shares as to which such person has:

         (i)  Sole power to vote or to direct the vote
                                                                  0
                                                               ----------------,


        (ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote
                                                                  0
                                                               ----------------,


       (iii)  Sole power to dispose or to direct the
              disposition of                                      0
                                                               ----------------,


        (iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the
              disposition of                                      0
                                                               ----------------.


Item 5.  Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

     If this  statement  is being filed to report the fact that as of the date
hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than
five percent of the class of securities check the following [x].

          The reporting  person has ceased to be the beneficial  owner of more
          than 5 percent of the class of securities

          -------------------------------------------------------------------


Item 6.  Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

     If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to
direct the receipt of dividends  from,  or the proceeds from the sale of, such
securities,  a statement to that effect should be included in response to this
item and,  if such  interest  relates to more than five  percent of the class,
such  person  should  be  identified.  A  listing  of the  shareholders  of an
investment  company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the
beneficiaries of employee benefit plan,  pension fund or endowment fund is not
required.

          N/A

          -------------------------------------------------------------------


Item 7.  Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
         Security  Being  Reported  on by the  Parent  Holding  Company or
         Control Person.

     If a parent  holding  company or Control  person has filed this schedule,
pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G), so indicate under Item 3(g) and attach an
exhibit  stating the  identity and the Item 3  classification  of the relevant
subsidiary.  If a parent  holding  company  or  control  person has filed this
schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c) or Rule 13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating
the identification of the relevant subsidiary.

          N/A

          -------------------------------------------------------------------


Item 8.  Identification  and  Classification  of Members of the Group.

     If a group has filed this schedule pursuant to ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J),
so indicate  under Item 3(j) and attach an exhibit  stating the  identity  and
Item 3  classification  of each member of the group. If a group has filed this
schedule pursuant to  ss.240.13d-1(c)  or  ss.240.13d-1(d),  attach an exhibit
stating the identity of each member of the group.

          N/A

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Item 9.  Notice of Dissolution of Group.

     Notice of dissolution  of a group may be furnished as an exhibit  stating
the date of the  dissolution  and that all  further  filings  with  respect to
transactions  in the  security  reported  on will be filed,  if  required,  by
members of the group, in their individual capacity. See Item 5.

          N/A

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Item 10. Certifications.

         Certification for Rule 13d-1(c):

          By signing  below I certify  that,  to the best of my knowledge  and
          belief,  the securities  referred to above were not acquired and are
          not held  for the  purpose  of or with the  effect  of  changing  or
          influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not
          acquired and are not held in connection  with or as a participant in
          any transaction having such purpose or effect.


                                   SIGNATURE

     After  reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief,  I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.


                                                    February 13, 2002
                                              -------------------------------
                                                        (Date)


                                                  /s/ Jeffrey Feinberg
                                              -------------------------------
                                                       (Signature)


                                                     Jeffrey Feinberg
                                              -------------------------------
                                                      (Name/Title)



Note. Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the  schedule,  including  all  exhibits.  See Rule  13d-7 for other
parties for whom copies are to be sent.

Attention.  Intentional  misstatements or omissions of fact constitute federal
criminal violations (see 18 U.S.C. 1001).

02717.0005 #384224