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                                 Exhibit 10.3.3

                     SECOND AMENDMENT TO SENIOR SUBORDINATED
                           CONVERTIBLE LOAN AGREEMENT


         THIS SECOND AMENDMENT TO SENIOR SUBORDINATED CONVERTIBLE LOAN
AGREEMENT, dated as of January 1, 2001 (this "AMENDMENT"), is among VALUE CITY
DEPARTMENT STORES, INC., an Ohio corporation (herein, together with its
successors and assigns, the "BORROWER"), the lender listed on the signature
pages hereof (the "LENDER"), and SCHOTTENSTEIN STORES CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation, as a Lender and as Administrative Agent (in such latter capacity,
the "ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT").

         PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:

         1. The Borrower and Prudential Securities Credit Corp., LLC, as initial
lender and as administrative agent ("PSCC"), entered into the Senior
Subordinated Convertible Loan Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2000 (the
"PRUDENTIAL LOAN AGREEMENT").

         2. As of December 11, 2000, PSCC assigned all of its right, title and
interest in the Prudential Loan Agreement and attendant loan documents to
Schottenstein Stores Corporation.

         3. As of December 11, 2000, the Borrower and the Lender entered into a
certain Waiver and Amendment to Senior Subordinated Convertible Loan Agreement,
thereby amending and modifying the Prudential Loan Agreement (the Prudential
Loan Agreement, as so amended, and as the same may hereafter be amended from
time to time, is hereinafter collectively referred to as the "LOAN AGREEMENT").
Capitalized terms used in this Amendment and not otherwise defined have the
meanings assigned such terms in the Loan Agreement. Concurrently with the above
referenced Waiver and Amendment, the Borrower and the Lender entered into a
certain letter agreement and term sheet (the "TERM SHEET") setting forth the
terms of an amendment to be entered into between the Borrower and the Lender.

         4. The Borrower is required under the terms of its senior secured
credit facility to obtain an amendment of the Loan Agreement that conforms to
the Term Sheet. Accordingly, the Borrower has requested the Lender to amend
certain terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement, and the Lender has agreed to
the Borrower's requested amendment of the Loan Agreement on the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Amendment.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements contained herein, the Borrower, the Lender, and the Administrative
Agent hereby agree as follows:

         SECTION 1. AMENDMENTS TO LOAN AGREEMENT.

         1.1 DEFINITIONS. Section 1.01, "CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS," of the Loan
Agreement is hereby amended by amending and restating the following definition
in its entirety:

                      "PRIME RATE" means a fluctuating interest rate per
             annum as shall be in effect from time to time, which rate per
             annum shall at all times be equal to the "Prime Rate" publicly
             announced by any money center bank selected by Administrative
             Agent from time to time as such money center bank's "Prime
             Rate," as published in the Wall Street Journal (it being
             understood that such Prime Rate may not be the lowest rate
             such money center bank charges its


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             customers). Any change in the Prime Rate due to a change in
             such Person's Prime Rate or published rate, as applicable,
             shall be effective on the effective date of such change in
             such Prime Rate or published rate, respectively. As of January
             1, 2001, until determined otherwise by the Administrative
             Agent, the Prime Rate applicable to any Prime Rate Advance
             shall be the Prime Rate of National City Bank.

         1.2 REFERENCES TO PRUDENTIAL. Any references in the Loan Agreement to
Prudential Securities Credit Corp., LLC, in its individual capacity as a Lender
or in its capacity as Administrative Agent, shall herein and in the Loan
Agreement be deemed to constitute references to Schottenstein Stores
Corporation.

         1.3 PAYMENT OF INTEREST. Section 2.06(b), "INTEREST RATES," of the Loan
Agreement is hereby amended to recite in its entirety as follows:

                      (b) INTEREST RATES. The Borrower shall pay interest on the
             unpaid principal amount of each Advance made by each Lender from
             the date of such Advance until such principal amount shall be paid
             in full, at the following rates per annum:

                      (i) PRIME RATE ADVANCES. In the case of a Prime Rate
             Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times to the sum of the
             Prime Rate in effect from time to time plus the Applicable Prime
             Rate Margin, payable (A) on the last day of each calendar month,
             (B) on any date on which such Advance shall be converted to a
             Eurodollar Rate Advance in accordance with Section 2.06(a), (C) on
             the date such Advance shall be repaid or prepaid in full,
             regardless of the date of such repayment or prepayment, and (D) on
             the earlier of (I) the Maturity Date, and (II) the date on which
             the Senior Debt is paid in full;

                      provided, that,

                      (X) subject to clause (Z) below, the amount of any
             interest payment required to be made pursuant to this Section 2.06
             shall not exceed forty-five percent (45%) of the amount of interest
             then accrued,

                      (Y) subject to clause (Z) below, the aggregate amount of
             all interest payments made by the Borrower pursuant to this Section
             2.06 during any fiscal year shall not exceed the lesser of (I)
             $3,500,000, and (II) the aggregate amount of the federal, state,
             local and foreign income taxes for such fiscal year (including
             without limitation, any additions to such taxes, and any penalties
             and interest with respect thereto) that are paid or are payable by
             the Lender or its shareholders attributable to the aggregate amount
             of Advances hereunder (the "Attributed Income Taxes"), and

                      (Z) all interest accruing hereunder and not paid as a
             result of this proviso shall bear interest at the rates applicable
             from time to time to the Advances on which such original interest
             accrued and shall be payable (with such interest thereon) on the
             earlier of (i) the Maturity Date, and (II) the date on which the
             Senior Debt is paid in full.



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                          (ii) EURODOLLAR RATE ADVANCES. In the case of a
             Eurodollar Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times during
             the Interest Period for such Advance to the sum of the Eurodollar
             Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Eurodollar Rate
             Margin, payable (A) on the last day of each Interest Period, (B) on
             any date on which such Advance shall be converted to a Prime Rate
             Advance in accordance with Section 2.06(a), (C) on the date such
             Advance shall be repaid or prepaid in full, regardless of the date
             of such repayment or prepayment, and (D) on the earlier of (I) the
             Maturity Date, and (II) the date on which the Senior Debt is paid
             in full;

                      provided, that

                      (X) subject to clause (Z) below, the amount of any
             interest payment required to be made pursuant to this Section 2.06
             shall not exceed 45% of the amount of interest then accrued,

                      (Y) subject to clause (Z) below, the aggregate amount of
             all interest payments made by the Borrower pursuant to this Section
             2.06 during any fiscal year shall not exceed the lesser of (I)
             $3,500,000, and (II) the Attributed Income Taxes, and

                      (Z) all interest accruing hereunder and not paid as a
             result of this proviso shall bear interest at the rates applicable
             from time to time to the Advances on which such original interest
             accrued and shall be payable (with such interest thereon) on the
             earlier of (i) the Maturity Date, and (II) the date upon which the
             Senior Debt is paid in full.

The remainder of Section 2.06 shall remain as originally written.

         1.4 SUBORDINATION. Article XI, "SUBORDINATION," of the Loan Agreement
is hereby amended to recite in its entirety as follows:

                      SECTION  11.01. SUBORDINATED DEBT SUBORDINATED TO SENIOR
             INDEBTEDNESS.

                      The Lenders agree that the Obligations of the Loan Parties
             under the Loan Documents are subordinate in right of payment to the
             prior payment in full of all Senior Debt, whether outstanding on
             the Closing Date or thereafter incurred, all in accordance with
             this Article XI.

                      SECTION 11.02.  DISTRIBUTION EVENTS.

                      Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Borrower
             to creditors upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation,
             arrangement, reorganization, adjustment, protection, relief or
             composition of the Borrower or its debts, whether voluntary or
             involuntary, in any bankruptcy, insolvency, arrangement,
             reorganization, receivership, relief or other similar case or
             proceeding under any Federal or State bankruptcy or similar law or
             upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other
             marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Borrower or
             otherwise (each such event, a "DISTRIBUTION EVENT"), the holders of
             Senior Debt will first be paid in full, in cash or cash
             equivalents, all amounts due or to


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             become due on or in respect of such Senior Debt (including interest
             accruing after the commencement of any such proceeding at the rate
             specified in the applicable Senior Debt) before the Lenders are
             entitled to receive any payment of principal of and interest on the
             amounts outstanding under the Loan Documents. In the event that,
             notwithstanding the foregoing, any Lender receives any payment or
             distribution of assets of the Borrower of any kind or character
             (excluding equity or subordinated securities of the Borrower
             provided for in a plan of reorganization or readjustment that, in
             the case of subordinated securities, are subordinated in right of
             payment to all Senior Debt to at least the same extent as the
             Indebtedness under the Loan Documents is so subordinated) after the
             occurrence of a Distribution Event but before all Senior Debt is
             paid in full, then such payment or distribution will be held in
             trust for the holders of Senior Debt and will be required to be
             paid over or delivered forthwith to the trustee in bankruptcy or
             other Person making payment or distribution of assets of the
             Borrower for application to the payment of all Senior Debt
             remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay the Senior Debt in
             full.

                      SECTION 11.03. BLOCKAGE, ETC.

                      The Borrower shall not make, and the Lenders shall not
             receive, any payments on account of the Indebtedness outstanding
             under the Loan Documents if a Default or Event of Default (each
             under and as defined in the Senior Credit Facility) shall have
             occurred on the Designated Senior Debt (a "SENIOR DEFAULT") until:
             (i) such Senior Default shall have been cured or waived or shall
             have ceased to exist, or (ii) the Designated Senior Debt shall have
             been discharged and paid in full (within the meaning of section
             11.04 below), after which time the Borrower shall resume payments
             on the Indebtedness. In the event that, notwithstanding the
             foregoing, the Borrower makes any payment to the Lenders prohibited
             by the foregoing provisions, then such payment will be held by the
             Administrative Agent and the Lenders in trust for the holders of
             the Designated Senior Debt and will be required to be paid over and
             delivered forthwith to the Administrative Agent under (and as
             defined in) the Senior Credit Facility ("SENIOR AGENT")for the
             benefit of the holders of such Designated Senior Debt.

                      SECTION 11.04. PAYMENT IN FULL.

                      For purposes of this Agreement, the Senior Credit Facility
             shall not be deemed to have been paid in full until the Commitments
             under (and as defined in) the Senior Credit Facility shall have
             terminated and all amounts due and owing or to become due and owing
             thereunder (other than contingent amounts in respect of
             indemnification, cost reimbursement and similar amounts for which
             no claim has been made) have been paid in full in cash or Cash
             Equivalents.

                      SECTION 11.05. IN FURTHERANCE OF SUBORDINATION.

                      Each Lender authorizes and directs the Administrative
             Agent on its behalf to take such action as may be necessary or
             appropriate to effectuate, as between the Lenders and the Senior
             Agent and the Senior Credit Facility Lenders, the subordination as
             provided in this Article and appoints the Administrative Agent its
             attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.


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                      SECTION 11.06. RIGHTS OF SUBROGATION.

                      Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Debt, the
             Lenders shall be subrogated, to the extent of the payments or
             distributions made to the holders of such Senior Debt pursuant to
             the provisions of this Article, to the rights of the holders of
             such Senior Debt to receive payments and distributions of cash,
             property and securities applicable to the Senior Debt until all of
             the Obligations hereunder shall have been paid in full. For
             purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the
             holders of the Senior Debt of any cash, property or securities to
             which the Lenders or the Administrative Agent would be entitled
             except for the provisions of this Article, and no payments over
             pursuant to the provisions of this Article to the holders of Senior
             Debt by the Lenders or the Administrative Agent, shall, as among
             the Borrower, its creditors other than holders of Senior Debt and
             the Lenders, be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the
             Borrower to or on account of the Senior Debt; provided, however,
             that no payment or distribution to the Senior Agent or the Senior
             Credit Facility Lenders pursuant to the provisions of this Article
             shall entitled the Administrative Agent or any Lender to exercise
             any right of subrogation in respect thereof until the Designated
             Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full.

                      SECTION 11.07. FURTHER ASSURANCES.

                      The Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and
             each Subsidiary Guarantor will, at the Borrower's expenses and at
             any time and from time to time, promptly execute and deliver all
             further instruments and documents, and take all further action, be
             necessary or desirable, or that the Senior Agent may reasonably
             request, in order to protect any right or interest granted or
             purported to be granted hereby or to enable the Senior Agent or any
             Senior Credit Facility Lender to exercise and enforce its rights
             and remedies hereunder.

                      SECTION 11.08. AGREEMENTS IN RESPECT OF SUBORDINATED DEBT.

                      (i) No amendment, waiver or other modification of the Loan
             Documents shall adversely affect the rights or interests of the
             Senior Agent or the Senior Credit Facility Lenders hereunder.

                      (ii) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the
             Senior Agent of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default
             under the Loan Documents of which the Administrative Agent is
             actually aware.

                      SECTION 11.09. AGREEMENT BY THE BORROWER.

                      The Borrower agrees that it will not make any payment of
             any of the Obligations, or take any other action, in contravention
             of the provisions of this Article.

                      SECTION 11.10. REINSTATEMENT.

                      The provisions of this Article shall continue to be
             effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any
             payment of any of the


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             Designated Senior Debt is rescinded or must otherwise be returned
             by the Senior Agent or any Senior Credit Facility Lender upon the
             insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or
             otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

                      SECTION 11.11. NO WAIVER; REMEDIES.

                      No failure on the part of the Senior Agent or any Senior
             Credit Facility Lender to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any
             right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any
             single or partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any
             other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
             right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not
             exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

                      SECTION 11.12. CONTINUING AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS UNDER THE
             SENIOR CREDIT FACILITY.

                      The provisions of this Article constitute a continuing
             agreement and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until the
             payment in full of the Senior Debt, (ii) be binding upon the
             Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and their
             respective successors and assigns, and (iii) inure to the benefit
             of, and be enforceable by, the Senior Agent, the Senior Credit
             Facility Lenders and their respective successors, transferees and
             assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause
             (iii), any Senior Credit Facility Lender may assign or otherwise
             transfer all or any portion of its rights and obligations under the
             Senior Credit Facility (including, without limitation, all or any
             portion of any note to be held by it) to any other Person or
             entity, and such other Person or entity shall thereupon become
             vested with all the rights in respect thereof granted to such
             Senior Credit Facility Lender herein.


         1.5 GOVERNING LAW. Section 12.08, "GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO
JURISDICTION," of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended to recite in its entirety
as follows:

                      SECTION 12.08. GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.

                      THIS AGREEMENT AND THE NOTES SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND
             ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE
             GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF OHIO, EXCLUDING CHOICE OF LAW
             PRINCIPLES. THE BORROWER HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE
             COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF THE STATE OF OHIO LOCATED IN FRANKLIN
             COUNTY, OHIO AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN
             DISTRICT OF OHIO, EASTERN DIVISION AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT,
             SUBJECT TO SOLE AND ABSOLUTE ELECTION OF THE HOLDERS OF THE NOTES
             AND TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ALL ACTIONS OR
             PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE NOTES OR ANY OTHER
             LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE LITIGATED IN SUCH COURTS, AND THE BORROWER
             WAIVES ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY HAVE



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             BASED ON IMPROPER VENUE OR FORUM NON CONVENIENS TO THE CONDUCT OF
             ANY PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURTS.


         SECTION 2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

         The Borrower represents and warrants as follows:

         2.1. AUTHORIZATION AND VALIDITY OF DOCUMENTS. This Amendment has been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Borrower,
has been duly executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the
Borrower, and constitutes the valid and binding agreement of the Borrower,
enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms.

         2.2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations and warranties
of the Borrower contained in the Loan Agreement and in the other Loan Documents
are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof as
though made on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such
representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier specified date, in
which case such representations and warranties are hereby reaffirmed as true and
correct in all material respects as of the date when made.

         2.3. NO EVENT OF DEFAULT. No condition or event has occurred or exists
that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default.

         2.4. COMPLIANCE. The Borrower is in full compliance with all covenants
and agreements contained in the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby.


         SECTION 3. CONTINUING EFFECT OF CREDIT DOCUMENTS.

         This Amendment shall not constitute an amendment or waiver of or
consent to any provision of the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document not
expressly referred to herein and shall not be construed as an amendment, waiver,
or consent to any action on the part of the Borrower that would require an
amendment, waiver, or consent of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders except
as expressly stated herein. Except as expressly amended hereby, the provisions
of the Loan Agreement and each other Loan Document are and shall remain in full
force and effect in accordance with their respective terms.


         SECTION 4. CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS.

         This Amendment shall become effective on a date (the "AMENDMENT
EFFECTIVE DATE"), as of January 1, 2001, provided that counterparts of this
Amendment shall have been executed by the Borrower, the Lender and the
Administrative Agent, and counterparts hereof as so executed shall have been
delivered to the Administrative Agent; and thereafter this Amendment shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent,
and each Lender and their respective permitted successors and assigns. After
this Amendment becomes effective, the Administrative Agent will promptly furnish
a copy of this Amendment to each Lender and the Borrower.

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         SECTION 5. MISCELLANEOUS.

         5.1. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. All representations
and warranties made in this Amendment shall survive the execution and delivery
of this Amendment, and no investigation by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender or any subsequent Loan or other Credit Event shall affect the
representations and warranties or the right of the Administrative Agent or any
Lender to rely upon them.

         5.2. REFERENCE TO LOAN AGREEMENT. The Loan Agreement and any and all
other agreements, instruments or documentation now or hereafter executed and
delivered pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement as amended hereby, are
hereby amended so that any reference therein to the Loan Agreement shall mean a
reference to the Loan Agreement as amended hereby.

         5.3. EXPENSES. As provided in the Loan Agreement, but without limiting
any terms or provisions thereof, the Borrower shall pay on demand all reasonable
costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the
preparation, negotiation, and execution of this Amendment, including without
limitation the reasonable costs and fees of the Administrative Agent's special
legal counsel, regardless of whether this Amendment becomes effective in
accordance with the terms hereof, and all reasonable costs and expenses incurred
by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the enforcement or
preservation of any rights under the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby.

         5.4. SEVERABILITY. Any term or provision of this Amendment held by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable shall not impair
or invalidate the remainder of this Amendment and the effect thereof shall be
confined to the term or provision so held to be invalid or unenforceable.

         5.5. APPLICABLE LAW. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

         5.6. HEADINGS. The headings, captions and arrangements used in this
Amendment are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of
this Amendment.

         5.7. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Amendment is specifically limited to the
matters expressly set forth herein. This Amendment and all other instruments,
agreements and documentation executed and delivered in connection with this
Amendment embody the final, entire agreement among the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all prior
commitments, agreements, representations and understandings, whether written or
oral, relating to the matters covered by this Amendment, and may not be
contradicted or varied by evidence of prior, contemporaneous or subsequent oral
agreements or discussions of the parties hereto. There are no oral agreements
among the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof or any other
subject matter relating to the Loan Agreement.

         5.8. JURY TRIAL WAIVER. The parties hereto hereby confirm that the jury
trial waiver provisions of section 12.11 of the Loan Agreement shall be fully
applicable to this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby.

         5.9. COUNTERPARTS. This Amendment may be executed by the parties hereto
separately in one or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be
deemed to be an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute
one and the same agreement.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered
as of the date first above written.


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<TABLE>

<S>                                                          <C>
VALUE CITY DEPARTMENT STORES,                                 SCHOTTENSTEIN STORES
INC.                                                          CORPORATION,
                                                                     INDIVIDUALLY AS LENDER AND AS THE
                                                                     ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

BY: /S/ JAMES A. MCGRADY                                      BY: /S/ JEFFREY D. SWANSON
    ----------------------------------------------                ----------------------------------------
       TITLE: CFO, SECRETARY AND TREASURER                           TITLE: SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
</TABLE>























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