EXHIBIT 10(l) Employment Agreement dated January 15, 2001 between the Registrant
              and Leonard M. Snyder.

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

      THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 15th day of January, 2001
("Agreement"), by and between One Price Clothing Stores, Inc., a Delaware
corporation with its principal place of business in Spartanburg County, South
Carolina, hereinafter referred to as "Employer," and Leonard M. Snyder,
currently a resident of Tucson, Arizona, hereinafter referred to as "Employee."

                              W I T N E S S E T H :

      For and in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises of the
parties hereto and the benefits inuring to the parties hereto, Employer and
Employee agree as follows:

      1. EMPLOYMENT. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
Employer employs Employee on an interim basis as its Executive Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer, and Employee accepts such employment with Employer. The
employment hereunder shall commence as of the date hereof, January 15, 2001, and
shall continue for a term of not less than six months (the "Minimum Term"). At
the option of the Company, such Minimum Term may be extended for up to two
additional three-month periods (("Extension Period(s)).

      2. DUTIES OF EMPLOYEE. Employee shall serve Employer faithfully and to the
best of his ability. Employee shall devote at least three full business weeks
per month on the Company's business, of which a minimum of ten business days per
month shall be at the headquarters office of the Company in Duncan, South
Carolina. It is expressly understood that Employee currently serves as a member
of the Board of Directors of two other companies and on committees of such
boards and it is agreed that Employee may continue to serve as a member of such
Boards of Directors and on committees of the boards of these two companies.

      3. RESPONSIBILITIES, AUTHORITY AND REPORTING. Employee shall have all the
responsibilities and authority normally accorded an Executive Chairman and Chief
Executive officer of a public company. In addition, Employee shall work closely
with the Board of Directors ("Board"), or a committee or individual assigned by
the Board, in the search, selection and ultimate employment of a full-time Chief
Executive Officer. Employee is also charged with the immediate task of
finalizing and implementing any action steps ultimately approved by the Board
regarding the store portfolio analysis and cost reduction initiatives currently
under consideration. Employee shall report to the Governance Committee of the
Board or such other Committee as may be designated by the Board from time to
time.

      4. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS.

                  (a) Salary. For all services rendered to Employer under this
                  Agreement, Employer shall pay Employee a monthly base salary
                  of $41,667 for the Minimum Term and any Extension Period(s).
                  Such salary shall be payable in bi-weekly installments in
                  accordance with the usual payroll practices of Employer, less
                  all legally required deductions. In the event a permanent
                  Chief Executive Officer is employed prior to the end of the
                  Minimum Term or any applicable Extension Period(s), and the
                  Company has accepted Employee's resignation and appointed him
                  Non-Executive Chairman as contemplated, then Employee shall
                  continue to receive the compensation of $41,667 per month
                  provided for in this section through the remainder of the
                  Minimum Term or any such applicable Extension Period. It is
                  understood that any compensation payable to Employee once he
                  has resigned and assumed the position of Non-Executive
                  Chairman shall commence only following the final payment due
                  as an Employee at the end of the Minimum Term (or any
                  applicable Extension Period(s)). In this respect it is also
                  understood that any compensation payable to Employee as
                  Interim Executive Chairman


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                  and Chief Executive Officer shall not overlap with that
                  payable as Non-Executive Chairman.

            (b)   Bonus. In view of the interim nature of this employment
                  arrangement, and as an inducement for Employee to terminate
                  existing consulting and related activities, Employee shall
                  receive a lump-sum signing bonus of $50,000 at the
                  commencement of his employment. In addition, Employee shall
                  receive a performance bonus of $40,000 upon successful
                  implementation of the action steps approved by the Board
                  regarding the store portfolio analysis and cost reduction
                  program referred to in Article 3, above. Such performance
                  bonus shall be payable at the end of the Minimum Term or
                  earlier to the extent earned upon early termination without
                  "Cause" (as hereinafter defined), or resignation with the
                  approval of the Company. In the event of extension of this
                  Agreement by the Company beyond the Minimum Term, a separate
                  bonus plan will be negotiated in good faith, taking into
                  consideration such factors as the year-to-date operating
                  results.

            (c)   Stock Options. In a desire to directly align Employee's
                  interests with those of the stockholders, Employee shall
                  receive a grant of 50,000 stock options for the purchase of
                  shares of Employer's common stock, with an exercise price
                  equal to the average of the high and low sales price per share
                  of such common stock on the effective the first business day
                  the stock market was open prior to the date of this agreement,
                  January 12, 2001, with all such options vesting at the end of
                  the Minimum Term ((or any applicable Extension Period(s) or
                  upon Employee's resignation with the consent of the Company,
                  whichever shall occur first. In the event Employee is
                  terminated without "Cause," or a "Change of Control" shall
                  have occurred, as hereinafter defined, or Employee shall not
                  have been offered the position of Non-Executive Chairman
                  following appointment of a permanent Chief Executive Officer,
                  then all such options shall vest immediately.

            (d)   Other Benefits.

                  (i)   During the term of his employment, Employee shall be
                        entitled to participate in all employee benefits as are
                        customarily provided to its officers by Employer, and to
                        participate in such other employee benefits as may from
                        time to time be instituted by Employer's Board of
                        Directors.

                  (ii)  Employee shall be entitled to the equivalent of four (4)
                        weeks of vacation annually, pro-rated for the period he
                        continues to be employed pursuant to this Agreement.

            (e)   Moving & Living Expenses. It is understood that Employee will
                  establish temporary lodging near the Company's headquarters
                  and will be commuting, from time to time, to and from his
                  residence in Tucson, Arizona. Employer agrees to reimburse
                  Employee for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
                  either Employee or Employee's spouse as a result of Employee's
                  assumption of employment with the Company, such as the cost of
                  related travel, interim lodging, telephone, car rental
                  expenses and the like. Payment for any such business expenses
                  shall be made bi-weekly, following receipt of appropriate
                  evidence documenting such expenses. In the event reimbursement
                  of such expenses shall be deemed to be taxable to Employee
                  then the Company shall gross-up such reimbursement to
                  compensate for such taxability.

            (f)   Payments Upon Termination.

                  (i)   In the event Employee is terminated by Employer while
                        serving as Executive Chairman and Chief Executive
                        Officer prior to the end of the Minimum Term (or any
                        Extension Period) without Cause or if not offered the
                        position of Non-Executive Chairman when a permanent
                        Chief Executive Officer is hired, then Employee shall
                        receive any salary which would otherwise be due for the
                        period remaining in the Minimum Term (or any Extension
                        Period, if applicable), along


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                        with any earned but unpaid bonus and a lump-sum payment
                        of $250,000.

                  (ii)  In the event Employee voluntarily terminates his
                        employment with Employer, or is terminated for Cause, he
                        shall be entitled to no additional payment upon such
                        termination other than any then accrued but unpaid
                        salary, vacation pay, or other normal reimbursement
                        items, pursuant to the Employer's normal policies and
                        procedures. "Cause" shall mean (a) commission by
                        Employee of any felony, (b) the commission by Employee
                        of any crime or other activity involving dishonesty or
                        moral turpitude, (c) the engagement by Employee in any
                        act of fraud, misappropriation or similar misfeasance,
                        (d) the engagement by Employee in any activity in
                        contravention of paragraph 5 hereof ("Confidential
                        Information") or any action otherwise resulting in a
                        material adverse effect to Employer, including violation
                        of any material policy of the Employer or (e) gross
                        negligence by Employee under this Agreement.

            (g)   Change of Control. In the event the Employee's employment with
                  the Company is terminated by the Employer without Cause, or is
                  terminated by the Employee for "Good Reason", after a "Change
                  of Control" of Employer (an "Employment Event"), then Employer
                  shall pay to Employee $750,000, together with his salary for
                  the remainder of the Minimum Term or any applicable Extension
                  Period(s), in one lump sum. Termination for "Good Reason"
                  shall be deemed to have occurred, and the Employee shall be
                  entitled to the benefits of this provision, if the Employee
                  voluntarily terminates his employment after 30 days written
                  notice to Employer and following the occurrence of any of the
                  following events, provided a "Change of Control" has occurred:

            (i)   The assignment to the Employee of any duties inconsistent with
                  the highest position (including status, offices, titles and
                  reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities
                  attained by the Employee during the period of his employment
                  with the Employer or any action by the Employer which results
                  in a material diminishment in such position, authority, duties
                  or responsibilities as were in effect immediately prior to the
                  Change of Control.

(ii)  A decrease in the Employee's compensation (including base salary, bonus or
      fringe benefits); or

(iii) Failure of any successor of the Employer to comply with this Agreement.

In addition, as previously noted, should a "Change of Control" occur, all
un-expired stock options shall vest and become immediately exercisable. In such
event, the normal expiration date shall apply to such options, provided,
however, that Employee shall have 90 days to exercise such options in the event
of termination following an Employment Event.

For purposes hereof, "Change of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred
following either of the following two events:

            (i)   A change in the Board of Directors of the Company, with the
                  result that members of the Board, as elected by the
                  stockholders of the Company on June 10, 1998 ("Incumbent
                  Directors"), no longer constitute a majority of such Board,
                  provided that any person who becomes a director and whose
                  appointment or election was supported by a majority of the
                  Incumbent Directors shall be considered an Incumbent Director
                  for purposes hereof; or;


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            (ii)  The occurrence of a Section 11 (a) (ii) Event, as defined in
                  the Shareholders Rights Agreement, originally dated November
                  3, 1994, between Wachovia Bank of North Carolina, N.A., as
                  Rights Agent, as amended and restated, and Employer ("Rights
                  Agreement"), provided, however, that for those purposes the
                  applicable percentage for a Change of Control to arise from a
                  change in stock ownership shall be 40% and not 15% as
                  currently provided for in the Rights Agreement.

      5.    CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Employee acknowledges that during his
            employment he will have access to confidential information belonging
            to the Employer. Such confidential information shall consist of all
            information disclosed to Employee as a result of employment by
            Employer not generally known in the retail business in which
            Employer is engaged including information concerning Employer's
            suppliers, including the costs, quantities and types of goods
            supplied, and the identity of such suppliers; information concerning
            the Employer's marketing and/or sales strategy or plans; real estate
            strategy and expansion plans; all pricing information relating to
            merchandise offered for sale by Employer, customers' list and all
            information dealing with customers' needs or preferences; all data
            processing information; all financial information including
            financial statements, financing plans and forecasts, and any and all
            information designated or marked as confidential. Employee will not
            use or disclose, or otherwise make available, such confidential
            information to any other person or entity without prior express
            written consent of Employer, either during or following the
            termination of Employee's employment. Upon termination of
            employment, Employee shall promptly return to all property then in
            his possession or custody belonging to Employer, including, without
            limitation, cell phone(s), lap-top computer, fax machine, along with
            all documents and shall not retain any copies or reproductions of
            correspondence, memoranda, reports, notebooks, drawings,
            photographs, or other documents relating in any way to the affairs
            of Employer.

      6.    NON-COMPETITION.

            (a)   Upon termination of Employee's employment with employer,
                  whether voluntary or involuntary, and whether with or without
                  cause, Employee will not, for a period of one (1) year from
                  date of such termination, conduct or engage in, directly or
                  indirectly, alone or jointly, with any other person or
                  corporation, as agent, consultant, employee, manager,
                  purchaser, proprietor, stockholder, co-partner, or otherwise,
                  any type of "Off-price" retail apparel business whose price
                  points and/or customer base could reasonably be considered in
                  competition with the business of Employer, either now or at
                  the time of such termination. Ceiling price points and single
                  price point concepts shall be included. This restriction
                  applies to the continental United States and Puerto Rico.

            (b)   Employee agrees not to solicit, attempt to employ, employ or
                  cause to be employed, either directly or indirectly, any other
                  employee of Employer for a period of one (1) year after
                  Employee's termination of employment. This restriction applies
                  to any type of business that Employee may enter.

      7.    RELEASE. In consideration for the lump sum payments referred to in
            Sections 4. f. and 4 g. of this Agreement, and for Employer's other
            agreements hereunder, Employee agrees to execute a general release
            and waiver of any claims against Employer, in form and substance
            reasonably satisfactory to Employer, prior to (or simultaneously
            with) receipt of any such lump sum payment.

      8.    NOTICES. All notices, consents, changes of address and other
            communications (hereinafter referred to as "Notice(s)" required or
            permitted to be made under the terms of this Agreement shall be in
            writing and shall be (i) personally delivered by an agent of the
            relevant Party, or (ii) transmitted by postage prepaid, certified or
            registered mail:

                    To Employer:    One Price Clothing Stores, Inc.
                                    Post Office 2487
                                    Spartanburg, SC 29304-2487
                                    Attn: Office of the General Counsel


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                    To Employee:    Mr. Leonard Snyder
                                    6260 Desert Moon Loop
                                    Tucson, AZ 85750

      9.    WAIVER OF BREACH. The waiver of Employer of a breach by Employee of
            any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as
            a waiver of any subsequent breach by Employee. No waiver shall be
            valid unless in writing and signed by an authorized officer of
            Employer.

      10.   ASSIGNMENT. Employee acknowledges that the services to be rendered
            by Employee are unique and personal. Accordingly, Employee may not
            assign any Employee's rights or delegate any of Employee's duties or
            obligations under the Agreement. The rights and obligations of
            Employer under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of an all
            be binding upon the Employer, and its successors and assigns.

      11.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Employee represents and warrants to
            Employer that he is under no obligation to, or bound by any contract
            with, any person, corporation or other entity that would prohibit or
            in any way interfere with the performance of his duties and
            obligations to Employer under this Agreement.

      12.   SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement as applied to
            either party or to any circumstances shall be adjudged by a court to
            be invalid or unenforceable, the same shall in no way affect any
            other provision of this Agreement, or the application of each
            provision to any other fact or circumstances.

      13.   ENTIRE AGREEMENT, MODIFICATION OR AMENDMENT. This Agreement
            constitutes the entire Agreement of the parties with respect to its
            subject matter and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements.
            This Agreement may be modified or amended from time to time by the
            mutual agreement of the parties hereto. No such modification or
            amendment of this Agreement shall be binding upon either party
            unless it is in writing and executed by the party sought to be
            charged.

      14.   COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
            counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one
            instrument.

      15.   CAPTIONS. The captions contained in this Agreement are for reference
            purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
            interpretation of this Agreement.

      16.   GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
            accordance with the laws of the State of South Carolina, without
            giving effect to South Carolina's rules of conflicts of law, and
            regardless of the place or places of its physical execution and
            performance.

      17.   ENFORCEMENT. This Agreement may only be enforced in a court of
            competent jurisdiction in Greenville, South Carolina. Employee
            agrees to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of a court of
            competent jurisdiction in Greenville County, South Carolina, whether
            or not then residing in South Carolina. The prevailing party shall
            be entitled to recover from the other party the cost of any court
            action, including reasonable attorney's fees.


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      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.

Witnesses:                                    One Price Clothing Stores, Inc.
                                                    Board of Directors


/s/ Grant H. Gibson                           By: /s/ Laurie M. Shahon
As to the Company                                 Chair - Compensation Committee


/s/ Diane G. O'Bryant                         By: /s/ Leonard M. Snyder
As to the Employee                                Leonard M. Snyder


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