<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000935703-03-000087
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031007
<ITEMS>9
<FILING-DATE>20031007
<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>03931988
</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>form8k100703.htm
<DESCRIPTION>SALES UPDATE
<TEXT>
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<A NAME=A001></A>
<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 7,
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 7, 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>






<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0">
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
     <TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">VIRGINIA</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"></FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">54-1387365</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
     <TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">(State or other jurisdiction of</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"></FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">(I.R.S. Employer</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
     <TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">incorporation or organization)</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"></FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">Identification No.)</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
     <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"></FONT></TD>
     <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"></FONT></TD>
     <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"></FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>


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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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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3><B>Item 9. Regulation FD
Disclosure</B>. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. has released
a business update for the third quarter of fiscal 2003, which is available via a recorded
telephone announcement beginning today, October 7 after 5:00 PM EDT and continuing through
Friday, October 11. The recorded announcement may be accessed by calling (757) 321-5TRE. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>The text of that recorded announcement
is included below: </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>Thank you for calling the Dollar Tree
business update hotline. This is Eric Coble, Chief Financial Officer. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>The information on this call about our
future expectations, plans and prospects constitutes forward-looking statements under the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our actual results may differ materially
from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important
factors, including national and international events, consumer spending, and others
described in our recent Annual Report, Current Report, and Quarterly Report on file with
the SEC. This information is current only as of the date presented, and we will not update
this information until our official quarterly sales release scheduled for Thursday,
November 6<SUP>th</SUP>, before market open. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>Our stated plan for the fiscal third
quarter, which runs from August 3<SUP>rd</SUP> through November 1<SUP>st</SUP>, is for
total sales to be in the range of $665 to $680 million. The mid-point of this range
equates to slightly positive comparable-store sales growth. Through October 5th, the
Company&#146;s sales can be characterized as on-plan, and we therefore reaffirm this range
of $665-680 million. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>As of September 30<SUP>th</SUP>, 2003,
we operated 2,491 stores in 47 states, compared to 2,179 stores in 38 states at September
30<SUP>th</SUP>, 2002. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>On Wednesday, October 8, 2003, we will
be holding our 3<SUP>rd</SUP> annual investor conference. The conference will be webcast
live on our website, <U>www.dollartree.com</U>, and will remain available for one week
following the conference. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>This hotline will next be updated on
Monday, January 5<SUP>th</SUP>, 2004. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>Thank you and have a nice day. </FONT></P>

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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 pursuant to the
Commission&#146;s Regulation FD. 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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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>A WARNING ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS: </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>This document contains
&#147;forward-looking statements&#148; as that term is used in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements address future events,
developments and results, including our anticipated sales and comparable-store sales. For
a discussion of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could affect our future
events, developments or results, you should carefully review the &#147;Management&#146;s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations&#148; and
&#147;Business&#148; sections in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 28, 2003, as
well as the risk factors appearing on pages 3-4 of the Annual Report. In light of these
risks and uncertainties, the future events, developments or results described by our
forward-looking statements in this document could turn out to be materially and adversely
different from those we discuss or imply. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>We are not obligated to release
publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this filing to
reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report or to reflect the
occurrence of future events and you should not expect us to do so. </FONT></P>


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<A NAME=A016></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=A017></A>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>DATE: October 7, 2003 </FONT></P>

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<A NAME=A018></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=2><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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</TEXT>
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</SUBMISSION>
