<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000935703-03-000081
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031001
<ITEMS>9
<FILING-DATE>20031001
<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>03920776
</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>form8k100103.htm
<DESCRIPTION>PROMOTION OF BOB SASSER TO CEO
<TEXT>
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<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" SIZE=3>UNITED STATES <BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION <BR>WASHINGTON D.C. 20549 </FONT></P>

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<A NAME=A004></A>
<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" SIZE=3>FORM 8-K </FONT></P>

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<A NAME=A005></A>
<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" SIZE=3>CURRENT REPORT <BR>
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of <BR>the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </FONT></P>

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<A NAME=A008></A>
<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" SIZE=3>Date of Report: October 1,
2003 </FONT></P>

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<A NAME=A009></A>
<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" SIZE=3>Date of Earliest Event
Reported: October 1, 2003 </FONT></P>

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<A NAME=A010></A>
<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" SIZE=3>DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC. <BR>(Exact name of
registrant as specified in its charter) </FONT></P>

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<A NAME=A012></A>
<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" SIZE=3>COMMISSION FILE NUMBER:
0-25464 </FONT></P>







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     <TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3">VIRGINIA</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3"></FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3">54-1387365</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
     <TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3">(State or other jurisdiction of</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3"></FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3">(I.R.S. Employer</FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3">incorporation or organization)</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3"></FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3">Identification No.)</FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"></FONT></TD>
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<A NAME=A013></A>
<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" SIZE=3>500 Volvo Parkway <BR>
Chesapeake, VA 23320 <BR>(Address of principal executive offices) </FONT></P>

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<P align="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" SIZE=3>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Registrant&#146;s
telephone number, including area code: (757) 321-5000 </FONT></P>

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<H1 ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" SIZE=3>Item 9. Regulation FD
Disclosure. </FONT></H1>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size=3>Today, October 1, 2003, Dollar Tree
Stores, Inc. issued a press release announcing the promotion of Bob Sasser to Chief
Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2004. The text of the press release is included
below. </FONT></P>

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<A NAME=A017></A>
<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size=3>DOLLAR TREE STORES
ANNOUNCES PROMOTION OF BOB SASSER TO <BR>CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size=3>CHESAPEAKE, VA &#150; October 1, 2003
&#150; Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: DLTR), the nation&#146;s leading $1.00 discount
variety store chain, today announced the promotion of Bob Sasser, age 51, to the position
of Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2004. Sasser will retain the title of
president. Macon Brock, Jr., one of the original founders of the Company, will remain
active as Chairman of the Board. He also will remain in his role as a key employee,
focusing on strategic issues. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size=3>&#147;The Board of Directors and I
have worked together to ensure a clear and smooth succession plan,&#148; Brock said.
&#147;I am thrilled to see Bob succeed me as CEO. As President and COO, he has
demonstrated outstanding leadership and superb business judgment, and he has been a major
contributor to our growth and success. Among his many notable achievements are the
integration of all of our acquisitions and the successful rollout of our point-of-sale and
supply-chain technology. He has built an outstanding professional management team, and I
am certain that he will continue to chart a course for Dollar Tree that will ensure its
ongoing, profitable growth. I will continue to be involved in the company and look forward
to providing guidance and input,&#148; Brock added. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size=3>Sasser is a graduate of Florida State
University, and his background includes senior-level merchant positions with Roses and
Michaels Stores. He joined Dollar Tree in 1999 as Chief Operating Officer and was promoted
to President in 2001. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size=3>&#147;I am extremely excited about the
opportunities before us,&#148; Sasser said. &#147;We have a concept that customers love
and we have built an infrastructure that is solid and scalable. My vision is to continue
this great tradition of successful and profitable growth. My thanks go to Macon and the
Board for the confidence that they have placed in me.&#148; </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size=3>Brock continued, &#147;I will work
with Bob and the entire management team on long-term, strategic issues. Bob and I have
forged an excellent working relationship, and we will continue to be in close
communication, as we are today. Bob is a seasoned merchant and operator with excellent
instincts and a passion for this business. It is my pleasure to see the Company&#146;s
succession plan fulfilled, and I plan to lend my full support as Dollar Tree continues on
to even greater heights.&#148; </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size=3>Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., the
nation&#146;s largest $1.00 discount variety store chain, operates 2,468 stores in 47
states as of August 2, 2003. The Company also operates a coast-to-coast logistics network
of eight distribution centers, with two more presently under construction. </FONT></P>






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     <TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3">CONTACT:</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3"></FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="80%" ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3">Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., Chesapeake</FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3"></FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3"></FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="80%" ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3">Erica Robb or Adam Bergman, 757/321-5000</FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3"></FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3"></FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="80%" ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3">www.DollarTree.com</FONT></TD></TR>
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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size=3>The information contained in this item
is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such information shall not
be deemed &#147;filed&#148; for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act
of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information shall not
be deemed incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document
filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, except as expressly set forth by specific
reference in such filing. </FONT></P>


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<A NAME=A019></A>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size=3>SIGNATURES </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size=3>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. </FONT></P>

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<A NAME=A020></A>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size=3>DATE: October 1, 2003 </FONT></P>

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<A NAME=A021></A>
<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size=3>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DOLLAR
TREE STORES, INC. </FONT></P>








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<TD WIDTH=50%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" size=3><B></B><BR><BR>
<BR>By: /s/ Frederick C. Coble<BR>&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;<BR>
Frederick C. Coble<BR>Chief Financial Officer</FONT></TD>
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</SUBMISSION>
