<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-30-1999 JAN-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> AUG-02-1998 FEB-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998 OCT-31-1998 <CASH> 38,133 0 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 602,881 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 668,850 0 <PP&E> 372,841 0 <DEPRECIATION> 167,144 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,014,150 0 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 283,895 0 <BONDS> 221,940 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 2,968 0 <OTHER-SE> 447,361 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,014,150 0 <SALES> 382,841 1,032,782 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 382,841 1,032,782 <CGS> 254,080 694,279 <TOTAL-COSTS> 365,696 997,469 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (160) (3,170) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,601 16,884 <INCOME-PRETAX> 11,704 21,599 <INCOME-TAX> 4,448 8,208 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,256 13,391 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,256 13,391 <EPS-PRIMARY> .25 .45 <EPS-DILUTED> .24 .43