

                                    FORM 8-K


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON D.C. 20549




                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                         Date of Report: April 11, 2000

                 Date of Earliest Event Reported: April 5, 2000


                            DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                         COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 0-25464

            VIRGINIA                                      54-1387365
 (State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation or organization)                       Identification No.)

                                500 Volvo Parkway
                              Chesapeake, VA 23320
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (757) 321-5000


<PAGE>


ITEM 5: OTHER EVENTS

On April 5, 2000, Dollar Tree Stores,  Inc. issued a press release regarding the
signing of a definitive  merger  agreement with Dollar  Express,  Inc. and first
quarter  sales.  A copy of the press  release  is  attached  to this Form 8-K as
Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by this reference.

The full  text of the  Merger  Agreement  and the  related  Registration  Rights
Agreement is attached as Exhibits 2.1 and 4.1, respectively.

ITEM 7: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

        (c) Exhibits

Exhibit #    Description

2.1          Merger  Agreement  dated  April 5, 2000 by  and  among  Dollar Tree
             Stores,  Inc.,  DT  Keystone, Inc., Dollar  Express, Inc., and  The
             Shareholders of Dollar Express, Inc.

4.1          Registration Rights Agreement dated April 5, 2000.

99.1         Dollar Tree Stores, Inc.'s press release regarding the announcement
             of the signing of a definitive merger agreement between Dollar Tree
             Stores, Inc. and Dollar Express, Inc. and first quarter sales.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

DATE: April 11, 2000

                                                  DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC.


                                                  By: /s/ Macon F. Brock, Jr.
                                                      -----------------------
                                                      Macon F. Brock, Jr.
                                                      President and CEO
