<ARTICLE>                       5
<LEGEND>                        THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS DATA EXTRACTED FROM
                                THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS,
                                AND THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS
                                OF INCOME AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
                                BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
<CIK>                           0000795212
<NAME>                          TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000
       
                                                    Amount
                                                  (in thousands, except per
Item Description                                         share data) 
- - - - -------------------                               --------------------------                
                                                          
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                            JAN-28-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                                 JUL-30-1994
<CASH>                                                       8,011
<SECURITIES>                                                 0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                0 
<ALLOWANCES>                                                 0
<INVENTORY>                                                  221,985
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                             242,837
<PP&E>                                                       175,312
<DEPRECIATION>                                               80,413
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                               347,157
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                        160,430
<BONDS>                                                      60,967
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                  0
<COMMON>                                                     97
<OTHER-SE>                                                   121,452
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                 347,157
<SALES>                                                      216,178
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                             216,178
<CGS>                                                        135,873
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                135,873
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                             83,205
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                             0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                           4,899
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                              (7,799)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                 (3,112)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                          (4,687)
<DISCONTINUED>                                               0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                              0
<CHANGES>                                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                                 (4,687)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                (.48)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                (.48)