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                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.14.4

                       AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


     THIS THIRD AMENDMENT, dated as of March 29, 2001 (the "Amendment"), to the
Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 6, 1998, between Cost Plus, Inc., a
California corporation, and John Hoffner (the "Employee") (the "Employment
Agreement").

                             W I T N E S S E T H :
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     WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend certain provisions of the
Employment Agreement as provided herein;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements
contained herein, and for other valuable consideration the receipt of which is
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

     1.  Amendment of Section 3.  Section 3(a) and 3(b) of the Employment
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Agreement (as renumbered by the first amendment to the Employment Agreement) are
hereby amended in their entirety to read as follows:

          3.  Severance Benefits.
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              (a) Benefits upon Termination.  Except as provided in Section
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          3(b), if the Executive's employment terminates as a result of
          Involuntary Termination prior to June 15, 2002 and the Executive signs
          a Release of Claims, then the Company shall pay Executive's Base
          Compensation to the Executive for twelve (12) months from the
          Termination Date with each monthly installment payable on the last day
          of such month.  Executive shall not be entitled to receive any
          payments if Executive voluntarily terminates employment other than as
          a result of an Involuntary Termination.

              (b) Benefits upon Termination After a Change of Control.  If
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          after a Change of Control the Executive's employment terminates as a
          result of Involuntary Termination prior to June 15, 2002 and the
          Executive signs a Release of Claims, then the Company shall pay
          Executive's Base Compensation to the Executive for eighteen (18)
          months from the Termination Date with each monthly installment payable
          on the last day of such month.  Executive shall not be entitled to
          receive any payments if Executive voluntarily terminates employment
          other than as a result of an Involuntary Termination.

      2.  Counterparts.  This Amendment may be signed in any number of
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counterparts, all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute one
and the same instrument.
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      3.  Governing Law.  This Amendment and the rights and obligations of the
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parties hereto shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance
with, the law of the State of California.


      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as of
the day and year first above written.


                                    COST PLUS, INC.


                                    By: /s/ M. Dashe
                                        ---------------------------------
                                         Name:  M. DASHE
                                         Title: CEO



                                    JOHN HOFFNER

                                    /s/ John Hoffner
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            SIGNATURE PAGE OF AMENDMENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

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