ST. LOUIS, April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Edison Brothers Stores Inc.
(Nasdaq: EDBR) today reported same-store sales of $73.4 million for March 1998
(the five weeks ended April 4, 1998).  This is a decrease of 11 percent, or
$9.1 million, from same-store sales of $82.5 million in March 1997.
    Total sales for March 1998 declined 15.7 percent to $76.6 million from
$90.9 million for the same period last year.  Total sales figures reflect the
fact that Edison operated an average of 152 fewer stores during March 1998
than in March 1997.
    The sales comparison is affected by the fact that Easter comes in April
this year, while Easter fell in March in 1997.
    Year-to-date same-store sales were $129.2 million, a decrease of
$10.3 million, or 7.4 percent, compared with the same-store sales of
$139.5 million for the same period in 1997. Total sales declined
$19.2 million, or 12.5 percent, to $134.7 million compared with total sales of
$153.9 million the previous year.
    Edison Brothers Stores Inc. operates 5-7-9 Shops junior apparel stores;
Bakers and Wild Pair footwear stores; JW, Coda, Oaktree, J. Riggings and REPP
Ltd. menswear stores; and REPP By Mail men's catalog.  With nearly $1 billion
in annual sales and nearly 1,600 stores in the United States, Canada, Puerto
Rico, and the Virgin Islands, Edison is one of the largest specialty retailers
of apparel, footwear and accessories in North America. Additional information
about Edison can be found on the company's Web site at
http://www.edisonbrothers.com.
    Edison segments report the following sales results for the month and year
to date:

                           March 1998               Year-to-date 1998
                      Total     Same-store         Total     Same-store

     Apparel         -15.9%      -11.7%           -12.1%       -7.9%
     Footwear        -14.8%       -9.3%           -12.4%       -6.2%
     Total Company   -15.7%      -11.0%           -12.5%       -7.4%


Web site:  http://www.edisonbrothers.com