<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000935703-03-000101
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20031216
<ITEMS>9
<FILING-DATE>20031216
<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>031056357
</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>form8k121603.htm
<DESCRIPTION>NEW MEMBER APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
<TEXT>

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<A NAME=A002></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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<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, 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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<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" Size=3>Date of Report:
December 16, 2003  </FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" Size=3>Date of Earliest Event
Reported: December 12, 2003  </FONT></P>

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

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<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, 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>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
     <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="3"></FONT></TD>
     <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3"></FONT></TD>
     <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3"></FONT></TD></TR>
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<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" Size=3>500 Volvo Parkway <BR>
Chesapeake, VA 23320  <BR> (Address of principal executive offices)  </FONT></P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Minor Center" FSL="Default" -->
<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" Size=3>Registrant&#146;s
telephone number, including area code: (757) 321-5000  </FONT></P>

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<A NAME=A005></A>
<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>On December 12, 2003, Dollar Tree
Stores, Inc, announced in a press release the appointment of Thomas E. Whiddon to the
Company&#146;s Board of Directors. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>A copy of the press release is
attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by this reference. </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. 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=A006></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=A007></A>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>DATE: December 16, 2003 </FONT></P>

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<A NAME=A008></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=10%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=50%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><B></B><BR><BR>
<BR>By: /s/ &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>exhibit991.htm
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT
<TEXT>
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<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Right" FSL="Default" -->
<P ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3> <B>Exhibit 99.1</B></FONT></P>



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<A NAME=A001></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>PRESS RELEASE </FONT></H1>

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<A NAME=A002></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC. </FONT></H1>

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<A NAME=A003></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>APPOINTS THOMAS E.
WHIDDON AS A NEW INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR </FONT></H1>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>CHESAPEAKE, Va. &#150; December 12,
2003 &#150; Macon F. Brock, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Dollar Tree Stores, Inc.
(NASDAQ: DLTR), announced that Thomas E. Whiddon has been appointed to its Board of
Directors. He also has been appointed to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>Mr.
          Whiddon, age 51, served as Executive Vice President of Logistics and Technology
          for home-improvement retailer Lowe&#146;s Companies, Inc., until his retirement
          in March 2003. Prior to being named to this position, he served as Lowe&#146;s
          Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and previously held various
          senior level financial, treasury and tax positions during his 29-year career
          with firms such as Zale Corporation, Inc, Eckerd Corporation and KPMG LLP. Mr.
          Whiddon&#146;s appointment brings the size of Dollar Tree&#146;s Board to nine. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>&#147;The Board is excited to welcome
a person of Tom&#146;s character and professionalism,&#148; Brock commented. &#147;He
brings a tremendous combination of skills and experience spanning areas key to our
business. He will bring a fresh perspective to Dollar Tree&#146;s logistics and technology
focus. He also adds pertinent and extensive financial expertise, having served as a Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer of highly successful public retail companies, and from his
years in public accounting.&#148; </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" Size=3>Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. is the
nation&#146;s leading $1.00 discount variety store chain, offering a vast array of
products including housewares, seasonal goods, food, toys, party goods, personal
accessories, books, candles and more. The company operates 2,511 stores in 47 states as of
November 1, 2003, as well as 8 distribution centers. </FONT></P>







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     <TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="LEFT">CONTACT:</TD>
     <TD WIDTH="5%" ALIGN="LEFT"></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="55%" ALIGN="LEFT">Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., Chesapeake</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
     <TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="LEFT"></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="5%" ALIGN="LEFT"></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="55%" ALIGN="LEFT">Erica Robb or Adam Bergman, 757-321-5000</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
     <TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="LEFT"></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="5%" ALIGN="LEFT"></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="55%" ALIGN="LEFT">www.DollarTree.com</TD></TR>
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     <TD></TD>
     <TD></TD>
     <TD></TD></TR>
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