Retail Ventures, Inc. reported total sales for the five weeks ended April 2, 2005, increased 0.8% to $262.7 million from $260.5 million for the five weeks ended April 3, 2004. The company's same store sales decreased 6.5% for the five week period.

Total sales for the nine weeks ended April 2, 2005, increased 4.4% to $445.3 million from $426.7 million for the nine weeks ended April 3, 2004. The company's same store sales decreased 3.4% for the nine week period.

    Retail sales statistics are as follows:

                                         Five weeks ended ($ in thousands)
                                        April 2, 2005        April 3, 2004*
                                         $          %          $        %
     Total Sales
       Value City Department Stores   $120,289     45.8     $135,182   51.9
       DSW Shoe Warehouse              110,931     42.2       96,306   37.0
       Filene's Basement                31,515     12.0       29,053   11.1
                                      $262,735    100.0     $260,541  100.0
     Comparable Sales Percentage
       Value City Department Stores               (10.4)%              (2.1)%
       DSW Shoe Warehouse                          (1.6)%              12.6 %
       Filene's Basement                           (4.2)%              15.2 %
                                                   (6.5)%               4.1 %


                                         Nine weeks ended ($ in thousands)
                                        April 2, 2005        April 3, 2004*
                                         $          %          $        %
     Total Sales
       Value City Department Stores   $210,922     47.4     $229,360   53.8
       DSW Shoe Warehouse              178,725     40.1      148,903   34.9
       Filene's Basement                55,693     12.5       48,416   11.3
                                      $445,340    100.0     $426,679  100.0
     Comparable Sales Percentage
       Value City Department Stores                (7.7)%               1.0%
       DSW Shoe Warehouse                           2.7 %              14.1%
       Filene's Basement                           (0.8)%              17.7%
                                                   (3.4)%               6.5%

     * Business segments were realigned at the beginning of fiscal 2005 to
       reflect how the company establishes strategic goals and manages the
       business. The realignment resulted in the Filene's Basement shoe
       business being included within the DSW Shoe Warehouse segment.  The
       fiscal 2004 presentation has been restated to conform with this
       realignment.