<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF J. BAKER, INC. FOR THE YEAR END JANUARY 29, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-29-2000 <PERIOD-END> JAN-29-2000 <CASH> 5,486,290 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 15,614,151 <ALLOWANCES> 200,000 <INVENTORY> 206,790,453 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 235,345,700 <PP&E> 135,631,513 <DEPRECIATION> 65,098,471 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 376,627,163 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 110,362,201 <BONDS> 174,064,132 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 7,033,763 <OTHER-SE> 82,692,527 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 376,627,163 <SALES> 665,456,337 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 665,456,337 <CGS> 359,983,047 <TOTAL-COSTS> 359,983,047 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 17,058,383 <INCOME-PRETAX> 13,241,610 <INCOME-TAX> 4,369,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 8,872,610 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,872,610 <EPS-BASIC> 0.63 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.62