As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 21, 2003


                                                       Registration No. 33-78586

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-8
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933



                              RETAIL VENTURES, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

              Ohio                                              20-0090238
    (State or other jurisdiction                             (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                            Identification No.)

                              3241 Westerville Road
                              Columbus, Ohio 43224
              (Address of Registrant's principal executive offices)


                       RETAIL VENTURES, INC. STOCK FUND OF
                       THE PROFIT SHARING AND 401(K) PLAN
               (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2000)

                            (Full Title of the Plan)


                                James A. McGrady
   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
                              Retail Ventures, Inc.
                              3241 Westerville Road
                              Columbus, Ohio 43224
                                 (614) 471-4722
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)


                          Copies of Correspondence to:
                             Robert J. Tannous, Esq.
                       Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP
                              41 South High Street
                              Columbus, Ohio 43215





                   POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8

           This post-effective amendment is being filed pursuant to Rule 414
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), to reflect
the adoption by Value City Department Stores, Inc., an Ohio corporation ("Value
City"), of a holding company form of organizational structure. The holding
company organizational structure was effected pursuant to an Agreement and Plan
of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") among Value City, Retail Ventures, Inc., an
Ohio corporation (the "Registrant"), and Value City Merger Sub, Inc., an Ohio
corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant ("Merger
Corporation"). The Merger Agreement provides for, among other things, the merger
(the "Merger") of Merger Corporation with and into Value City, with Value City
as the surviving corporation. The Merger was approved by the shareholders of
Value City at a meeting for which proxies were solicited pursuant to Section
14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),
which was held on September 26, 2002.

           As a result of the Merger, which was consummated at 12:01 a.m. on
October 8, 2003, Value City became a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the
Registrant. Each share of common stock, without par value, of Value City issued
and outstanding was converted into and exchanged for one share of common stock,
without par value, of the Registrant. Immediately prior to the consummation of
the Merger, the Registrant had nominal assets and liabilities.

           In accordance with Rule 414 under the Securities Act, the Registrant,
as successor issuer to Value City, hereby expressly adopts this registration
statement as its own for all purposes of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act. The Value City Department Stores, Inc. Stock Fund of The Profit Sharing and
401(k) Plan (the "Plan"), formerly known as the Value City Department Stores,
Inc. Stock Fund of the Associates Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan # SS-7 of
Schottenstein Stores Corporation and Affiliated Entities, shall be known as the
Retail Ventures, Inc. Stock Fund of The Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan.
Subsequent to the holding company reorganization, the Plan will continue to
cover employees of Value City. However, shares of stock issued in accordance
with the Plan shall be shares of stock of the Registrant rather than shares of
Value City.

           The applicable registration fees were paid at the time of the
original filing of this registration statement.



                                      -1-


                                   SIGNATURES

           Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Columbus, State of Ohio, on October
20, 2003.

                         RETAIL VENTURES, INC.


                         By: * John C. Rossler
                            ----------------------------------------------------
                            John C. Rossler, President and
                            Chief Executive Officer


           Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated:



              SIGNATURE                                     TITLE                                            DATE
              ---------                                     -----                                            ----
                                                                                         

           *Jay L. Schottenstein                    Chairman of the Board                      )     October 20, 2003
----------------------------------------------                                                 )
           Jay L. Schottenstein                                                                )
                                                                                               )
                                                                                               )
           *John C. Rossler                         President and Chief Executive Officer      )     October 20, 2003
----------------------------------------------      (Principal Executive Officer)              )
           John C. Rossler                                                                     )
                                                                                               )
                                                                                               )
           /s/ James A. McGrady                     Executive Vice President, Chief            )     October 20, 2003
 ---------------------------------------------      Financial Officer, Treasurer, and          )
           James A. McGrady                         Secretary (Principal Financial Officer)    )
                                                                                               )
                                                                                               )
                                                                                               )
           *Henry L. Aaron                          Director                                   )     October 20, 2003
----------------------------------------------                                                 )
           Henry L. Aaron                                                                      )
                                                                                               )
                                                                                               )
           *Ari Deshe                               Director                                   )     October 20, 2003
----------------------------------------------                                                 )
           Ari Deshe                                                                           )
                                                                                               )
                                                                                               )
           *Jon P. Diamond                          Director                                   )     October 20, 2003
----------------------------------------------                                                 )
           Jon P. Diamond                                                                      )
                                                                                               )
                                                                                               )
           *Elizabeth M. Eveillard                  Director                                   )     October 20, 2003
----------------------------------------------                                                 )
           Elizabeth M. Eveillard                                                              )
                                                                                               )
                                                                                               )
           *Harvey L. Sonnenberg                    Director                                   )     October 20, 2003
----------------------------------------------                                                 )
           Harvey L. Sonnenberg                                                                )
                                                                                               )
                                                                                               )




                                      -2-



                                                                                         
           *James L. Weisman                        Director                                   )     October 20, 2003
----------------------------------------------                                                 )
           James L. Weisman                                                                    )


*By:    /s/ James A. McGrady
      ----------------------------------------
        James A. McGrady, attorney-in-fact
        for each of the persons indicated


















                                      -3-


                            Registration No. 33-78586




                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549





                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1

                                       TO

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                      UNDER

                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933






                              RETAIL VENTURES, INC.



                                    EXHIBITS






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit                                   Exhibit
Number                                  Description
------                                  -----------
            
 4(a)      *      The Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan

 4(b)             Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Retail Ventures, Inc.
                  (Previously filed as Exhibit 3(a) to Form 8-K (file No. 001-10767) filed
                  October 8, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).

 4(c)             Amended and Restated Code of Regulations of Retail Ventures, Inc.
                  (Previously filed as Exhibit 3(b) to Form 8-K (file No. 001-10767) filed
                  October 8, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).

 5         *      Opinion of Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP regarding legality.

 23(a)            Consent of Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP (included in Exhibit 5
                  filed herewith).

 23(b)     *      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

 24        *      Powers of Attorney.




* Filed with this Registration Statement