NEWARK, Calif., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, October 14th, Ross 'Dress For Less' will celebrate the grand opening of its first store in Guam. The 32,839 square foot location will be situated in the Guam Premium Outlets Center in the capital city of Tamuning, one of the premier shopping destinations for more than one million tourists who visit Guam each year. The new Ross will feature an expanded home department, fine jewelry and watches in addition to wide assortments of name brand fashions for the entire family all offered at competitive discounts everyday.

In commenting on this news, Jim Peters, President and Chief Operating Officer stated, "Our new Guam store is one of 20 Ross 'Dress For Less' locations grand opening this fall. With 381 existing stores on the mainland and 11 stores in Hawaii, we are excited about the opportunity to expand our geographic reach by becoming a welcome and affordable addition to the local community in Guam. To celebrate our entry into Guam, we will be hosting a Preview Night before the grand opening on October 6th to raise funds for Guam's First Lady Geraldine Gutierrez's 'People Helping People' Campaign."

During October and November, Ross will also open five stores each in California and Texas, two new locations each in Oregon, Utah and Pennsylvania and one new store each in Colorado, Florida and Washington. The off-price retailer will now operate a total of 412 stores in 17 states and Guam.

Ross Stores, Inc. operates a national chain of off-price retail stores offering first quality, in-season, branded apparel and apparel-related merchandise for the entire family at prices that average 20% to 60% less than department and specialty stores, as well as merchandise for the home at similar savings. The company had 1999 revenues of $2.5 billion and currently operates 392 stores in 18 states. SOURCE Ross Stores, Inc.

/NOTE TO EDITORS: Ross Stores, Inc. press releases are available at no charge through the company's home page on the internet at www.rossstores.com/

CONTACT: Katie Loughnot, Director, Investor Relations, 510-505-4509, or katie.loughnot@ros.com, or Mercy Hernandez, 671-653-5560, or gash@ite.net, both of Ross Stores, Inc./