<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  OF J. BAKER,  INC. FOR THE QUARTER ENDED OCTOBER 28, 2000
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>


                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              FEB-03-2001
<PERIOD-END>                                   OCT-28-2000
<CASH>                                           1,653,614
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   17,132,963
<ALLOWANCES>                                       245,000
<INVENTORY>                                    171,684,853
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               291,814,687
<PP&E>                                         118,619,668
<DEPRECIATION>                                  51,335,356
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 435,931,082
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           99,174,602
<BONDS>                                        265,378,284
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                         7,034,188
<OTHER-SE>                                      61,958,232
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   435,931,082
<SALES>                                        318,345,882
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               318,345,882
<CGS>                                          160,902,766
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  160,902,766
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               9,715,677
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  7,961,721
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,866,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              5,095,721
<DISCONTINUED>                                 (25,200,060)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (20,104,339)
<EPS-BASIC>                                          (1.43)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        (1.40)