SIXTH AMENDMENT
                             TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                              DATED MARCH 25, 1993

         Reference is made to the  Executive  Employment  Agreement  dated as of
March 25, 1993,  as amended on March 31, 1995,  March 31, 1996,  March 31, 1997,
March 31,  1998 and April 10,  1999 (the  "Agreement")  by and between J. Baker,
Inc.  and Sherman N. Baker.  Pursuant to paragraph  19 of the  Agreement  and in
order to further amend certain  provisions  of the  Agreement,  the Agreement is
hereby amended as follows:

         1. Paragraph 3(a) of the Agreement  entitled  "Compensation"  is hereby
amended  by  deleting  the  figure  "$206,676"  in the third  line  thereof  and
inserting in its place the figure "$186,000".

         2.  Paragraph 6 of the  Agreement  is hereby  amended by  deleting  the
phrase  "ending on April 1, 2000" in the fifth line thereof and inserting in its
place the phrase "ending on April 1, 2001".

         3. All other terms of the Agreement shall remain unchanged and continue
in full force and effect.



J. BAKER, INC.




By:   /s/ Alan I. Weinstein                            April 19, 2000
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         Alan I. Weinstein                             Date
         President and
         Chief Executive Officer


      /s/ Sherman N. Baker                             April 19, 2000
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         Sherman N. Baker                              Date