<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000935703-01-500028
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20010930
<ITEMS>5
<FILING-DATE>20010918
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DOLLAR TREE STORES INC
<CIK>0000935703
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5331
<IRS-NUMBER>541387365
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>VA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-25464
<FILM-NUMBER>1739958
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>500 VOLVO PARKWAY
<STREET2>N/A
<CITY>CHESAPEAKE
<STATE>VA
<ZIP>23320
<PHONE>(757) 321-5000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>500 VOLVO PARKWAY
<CITY>CHESAPEAKE
<STATE>VA
<ZIP>23320
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form8k091801.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE - LIMITED SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM
<TEXT>
                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K



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


                       Date of Report: September 18, 2001

               Date of Earliest Event Reported: September 18, 2001


                            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 September 18, 2001, Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. issued a press release
announcing a limited share repurchase program. A copy of the press release
is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by this
reference.

Item 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

         (c) Exhibits

Exhibit #       Description

99.1            Dollar Tree Stores, Inc.'s press release issued September 18,
                2001.


                                   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: September 18, 2001

                                    DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC.


                                    By:     /s/ Frederick C. Coble
                                            --------------------------------
                                            Frederick C. Coble
                                            Chief Financial Officer






</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>exhibit991.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE - LIMITED SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM
<TEXT>
                                                                    Exhibit 99.1


                                  PRESS RELEASE

       DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC. ANNOUNCES LIMITED SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

CHESAPEAKE, Va. - September 18, 2001 - Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: DLTR),
the nation's largest $1.00 discount variety store chain, today announced that
its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $100 million of
its common stock effective immediately and ending at the expiration of the
Securities and Exchange Commission's Emergency Relief Order, including any
extensions.

This repurchase plan is permitted under the terms of the Emergency Relief Order
issued by the SEC in response to the tragic incidents in New York City and
Washington, D.C. This order currently extends through September 21, 2001.

Due to the SEC's accounting rules relating to pooling-of-interests mergers,
Dollar Tree has previously been unable to enter into a formal repurchase
program. Dollar Tree completed a pooling-of-interests merger with Dollar Express
on May 5, 2000.

"We have complete confidence in the underlying strength of our domestic economy
and in our country's financial markets. I am particularly pleased with the
positioning of Dollar Tree in this economy and we are very confident of its
future," said Macon Brock, Chairman and CEO. "Prudent financial management has
enabled us to maintain a strong balance sheet which allows us this opportunity
to lend stability to the marketplace. We plan to buy back shares in a
responsible, disciplined manner."

Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. is the nation's leading $1.00 discount variety store
chain. As of September 17, 2001, Dollar Tree operates over 1,900 stores in 36
states, with distribution centers in Virginia, Mississippi, Illinois,
California, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

         CONTACT:          Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., Chesapeake
                           Eric Coble or Erica Robb, 757/321-5000
                           http://www.DollarTree.com




</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
