<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>                      AUG-3-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     6-MOS
<CASH>                            7,783
<SECURITIES>                      0
<RECEIVABLES>                     0
<ALLOWANCES>                      0
<INVENTORY>                       168,718
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                  197,035
<PP&E>                            169,273
<DEPRECIATION>                    93,401
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    273,595
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>             126,633
<BONDS>                           52,577
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>             0
<PREFERRED>                       0
<COMMON>                          98
<OTHER-SE>                        88,987
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      273,595
<SALES>                           203,339
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                  203,339
<CGS>                             131,554
<TOTAL-COSTS>                     131,554
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                  73,543
<LOSS-PROVISION>                  0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                6,143
<INCOME-PRETAX>                   (7,901)
<INCOME-TAX>                      (2,770)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>               0
<DISCONTINUED>                    0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                   0
<CHANGES>                         0
<NET-INCOME>                      (5,131)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                     (0.53)
<EPS-DILUTED>                     (0.53)