<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF J. BAKER, INC. FOR THE QUARTER ENDED NOVEMBER 2, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> NOV-02-1996 <CASH> 2,298,981 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 36,016,784 <ALLOWANCES> 3,092,535 <INVENTORY> 319,134,625 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 372,181,663 <PP&E> 196,967,307 <DEPRECIATION> 77,739,566 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 551,902,259 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 107,966,441 <BONDS> 254,794,736 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 6,946,005 <OTHER-SE> 180,409,184 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 551,902,259 <SALES> 650,099,176 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 650,099,176 <CGS> 361,867,161 <TOTAL-COSTS> 361,867,161 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,026,990 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,112,645 <INCOME-TAX> 2,383,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,729,645 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,729,645 <EPS-PRIMARY> .27 <EPS-DILUTED> .27