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                                                                 EXHIIBT 10.2(b)

                     FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

      This FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of May 1, 2006
("First Amendment"), is by and between THE BON-TON STORES, INC., a Pennsylvania
corporation (the "Company"), and DAVID ZANT ("Employee").

                                   W I T N E S S E T H:

      WHEREAS, the Company and Employee entered into an Agreement dated as of
December 13, 2004 ("Agreement") with respect to the employment of Employee as
the Vice Chairman and Chief Merchandising Officer of the Company;

      WHEREAS, the Agreement terminates on January 31, 2008, unless sooner
terminated by the Company or the Employee; and

      WHEREAS, the Human Resources and Compensation Committee ("HRCC") of the
Company's Board of Directors have approved certain modifications to the
Agreement.

      NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
contained herein and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company and
Employee agree as follows:

      1. Position and Responsibilities. Amendment of Section 1(a) of the
Agreement. Section 1(a) of the Agreement is deleted and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof:

      "The Company and the Employee agree that Employee shall be transferred to
      the position of the Company's Vice Chairman, Private Brand and Planning &
      Allocation. Employee shall have the responsibilities for the Company's
      Private Brand, Planning and Allocation, Internet Promotion and Sales
      matters and shall report to the President and Chief Executive Officer or
      such other direct report as the President and Chief Executive Officer may
      designate."

      2. Place of Performance. Amendment of Section 3 of the Agreement. Section
3 of the Agreement is deleted and the following is substituted in lieu thereof:

      "Place of Performance. Employee's shall be based at the regular executive
      offices of the Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, except for travel required
      for Company business. Employee's cost of relocation to Milwaukee,
      Wisconsin shall be fully reimbursed in accordance with the Company's
      relocation policy. In the event of a relocation of the Company's executive
      offices in the future requiring Employee to relocate his residence,
      Employee shall relocate subject to reimbursement for relocation expenses
      on the same basis and to the same extent as other similarly situated
      Company executives."

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      3. Compensation. Amendment of Section 4(c) of the Agreement. Section 4(c)
of the Agreement is deleted and the following is substituted in lieu thereof:

      "Annual Bonus. Employee will participate in The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. Cash
      Bonus Plan ("Cash Bonus Plan") in accordance with its terms and conditions
      as it may be amended in accordance with its provisions or such other
      annual bonus plan as may be established by the Company. For each of the
      fiscal years of the Company during the Term, Employee shall be eligible to
      earn a bonus, with the following parameters: a threshold bonus of 56.25%
      of Employee's Base Salary; a target bonus of 75% of Employee's Base
      Salary; and a maximum bonus of 112.5% of Employee's Base Salary. If
      earned, one bonus will be paid depending on the level of achievement with
      respect to performance measures determined for each of the Company's
      fiscal years by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee ("HRCC").
      The HRCC shall retain discretion with respect to this bonus as is provided
      under the terms of the Cash Bonus Plan. To the extent reasonably
      practicable, the annual bonus shall be computed within 90 days following
      the close of the Company's fiscal year and paid within 30 days of its
      computation. Employee must be employed on the last day of the Company's
      fiscal year to receive a bonus, except as otherwise provided in Paragraph
      7(a)(iii) of this First Amendment with respect to a Discharge Without
      Cause, Resignation for Good Reason or Resignation Without Good Reason as
      those terms are defined below."

      4. Other Benefits. Amendment of Section 7 of the Agreement.

            (a) Section 7 of the Agreement is amended to set forth the following
agreement between the Company and Employee: Employee shall be entitled to
payment of his reasonable attorneys fees incurred in connection with this First
Amendment up to a maximum of $3,000.

            (b) In all other respects, Section 7 of the Agreement shall remain
in effect.

      5. Termination of Employment. Amendment of Section 9(c) of the Agreement.

            (a) Resignation for Good Reason. Section 9(c) of the Agreement is
amended to set forth the following agreement between the Company and Employee:
For purposes of the Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean any of the following
violations of the Agreement by the Company: causing Employee, without Employee's
consent, to cease to have duties and responsibilities commensurate with those of
Vice Chairman, Private Brand and Planning & Allocation; any reduction in the
Employee's base salary; any reduction in the Employee's potential bonus
eligibility amounts; any required relocation from the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area;
and any substantial breach of any material provision of this Agreement.

            (b) In all other respects, Section 9(c) of the Agreement shall
remain in effect.

      6. Termination of Employment. Amendment of Section 9(e) of the Agreement.
Section 9(e) of the Agreement is deleted and the following is substituted in
lieu thereof:

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      "Discharge for Cause. The Company may discharge Employee at any time for
      "Cause," which shall be limited to: Employee's material and serious breach
      or neglect of Employee's responsibilities; willful violation or disregard
      of standards of conduct established by law; willful violation or disregard
      of standards of conduct established by Company policy as may from time to
      time be communicated to Employee; fraud, willful misconduct,
      misappropriation of funds or other dishonesty; conviction of a crime of
      moral turpitude; any misrepresentation made in this Agreement; or any
      material breach by Employee of any provision of this Agreement (including,
      without limitation, acceptance of employment with another company or
      performing work or providing advice to another company, as an employee,
      consultant or in any other similar capacity while still an employee of the
      Company)."

      7. Payments Upon Termination. Amendment of Section 10(a) of the Agreement.
Section 10(a) of the Agreement is deleted and the following is substituted in
lieu thereof:

            "(a) Discharge Without Cause, Resignation for Good Reason or
Resignation Without Good Reason. If Employee is discharged without Cause,
resigns for Good Reason or resigns without Good Reason, other than following a
Change in Control, Employee shall receive:

                  (i) his then current rate of base salary, less taxes and
normal deductions, for a period of twelve (12) months, payable in equal
installments in accordance with the Company's regular payroll practices. To the
extent Employee resigns without Good Reason, any severance payments shall be
offset by the annual base salary received by Employee during the period covered
by the severance payment from any subsequent employment;

                  (ii) continuation of the Company's contribution towards his
Company group medical benefits for up to twelve (12) months or until Employee
becomes eligible for comparable benefits at a new employer;

                  (iii) after having completed at least three (3) months of
employment in the Company's fiscal year, a pro-rata bonus for that year (based
on the number of days employed in the fiscal year) based on the Company's full
year performance in accordance with Section 4(c) of the Agreement, as amended by
this First Amendment. The bonus, if any, will be paid as soon as practicable
after the end of the fiscal year in which the termination occurs.

The Employee's right to any payments or benefits provided under Section 10(a) of
the Agreement, as amended by this First Amendment, shall be contingent upon (i)
execution by the Employee at or about the time of termination of his employment
of a general release of claims (including without limitation contractual, common
law and statutory claims) in a form satisfactory to the Company in favor of the
Company and its officers, directors, executives and agents substantially; and
(ii) compliance by the Employee with all of the terms of this Agreement, as
amended by this First Amendment, including without limitation paragraphs 11 and
12 of the Agreement, as amended by this First Amendment."

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      8. Non-Competition and Confidentiality. Amendment of Section 12(a)(ii) of
the Agreement.

            (a) Section 12(a)(ii) of the Agreement is amended to set forth the
following agreement between the Company and Employee as follows: The phrase
"After the cessation of his employment" is deleted.

            (b) In all other respects, Section 12(a)(ii) of the Agreement shall
remain in effect.

      9. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have
the meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement.

      10. Controlling Law. This First Amendment and all questions relating to
its validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement (including, without
limitation, provisions concerning limitations of actions), shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
notwithstanding any conflict-of-laws doctrines of such state or any other
jurisdiction to the contrary, and without the aid of any canon, custom or rule
of law requiring construction against the draftsman.

      11. Execution in Counterparts. This First Amendment may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original against
any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which shall together
constitute one and the same instrument. This First Amendment shall become
binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together,
shall bear the signatures of all of the parties hereto.

      12. Effect of Amendment. Except as may be affected by this First
Amendment, all of the provisions of the Agreement, as amended hereby, shall
continue in full force and effect. The provisions of this First Amendment shall
not constitute a waiver or modification of any terms or conditions of the
Agreement other than as expressly set forth herein.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound,
have duly executed and delivered, in Pennsylvania, this First Amendment.

THE BON-TON STORES, INC.

   /s/ Byron Bergren                                        8/11/06
-----------------------------                               --------------------
By: Byron Bergren                                           Date
    Chief Executive Officer

EMPLOYEE

  /s/ David  Zant                                           8-10-06
-----------------------------                               --------------------
By: David  Zant                                             Date

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