<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF J. BAKER, INC. FOR THE QUARTER ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-30-1999 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998 <CASH> 916,379 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 20,150,256 <ALLOWANCES> 592,458 <INVENTORY> 187,500,067 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 218,364,091 <PP&E> 124,849,457 <DEPRECIATION> 53,991,249 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 355,327,626 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 61,000,981 <BONDS> 211,519,939 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 7,031,263 <OTHER-SE> 72,892,427 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 355,327,626 <SALES> 411,389,847 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 411,389,847 <CGS> 224,047,898 <TOTAL-COSTS> 224,047,898 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,055,400 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,307,190 <INCOME-TAX> 2,460,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,847,190 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,847,190 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.28 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.27