<ARTICLE>       5
<LEGEND>        THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS DATA EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED
                BALANCE  SHEETS,  AND THE 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
Item Description        (in thousands, except per share data)
- -----------------       -------------------------------------
                               
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                 FEB-1-1997
<PERIOD-START>                    FEB-4-1996
<PERIOD-END>                      MAY-4-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     3-MOS
<CASH>                            50,655
<SECURITIES>                      0
<RECEIVABLES>                     0
<ALLOWANCES>                      0
<INVENTORY>                       180,205
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                  253,024
<PP&E>                            170,564
<DEPRECIATION>                    92,144
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    330,966
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>             180,660
<BONDS>                           53,527
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>             0
<PREFERRED>                       0
<COMMON>                          98
<OTHER-SE>                        91,326
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      330,966
<SALES>                           106,622
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                  106,622
<CGS>                             69,453
<TOTAL-COSTS>                     69,453
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                  38,350
<LOSS-PROVISION>                  0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                3,037
<INCOME-PRETAX>                   (4,218)
<INCOME-TAX>                      (1,479)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>               0
<DISCONTINUED>                    0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                   0
<CHANGES>                         0
<NET-INCOME>                      (2,739)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                     (.28)
<EPS-DILUTED>                     (.28)