<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>                           NOV-2-1996
 <PERIOD-TYPE>                          9-MOS
 <CASH>                                        8,324
 <SECURITIES>                                      0
 <RECEIVABLES>                                     0
 <ALLOWANCES>                                      0
 <INVENTORY>                                 214,084
 <CURRENT-ASSETS>                            248,079
 <PP&E>                                      170,288
 <DEPRECIATION>                               96,106
 <TOTAL-ASSETS>                              322,394
 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       178,025
 <BONDS>                                      51,443
 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                             0
 <PREFERRED>                                       0
 <COMMON>                                         98
 <OTHER-SE>                                   86,532
 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                322,394
 <SALES>                                     300,922
 <TOTAL-REVENUES>                            300,922
 <CGS>                                       192,920
 <TOTAL-COSTS>                               192,920
 <OTHER-EXPENSES>                            110,917
 <LOSS-PROVISION>                                  0
 <INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            8,800
 <INCOME-PRETAX>                             (11,715)
 <INCOME-TAX>                                 (4,107)
 <INCOME-CONTINUING>                               0
 <DISCONTINUED>                                    0
 <EXTRAORDINARY>                                   0
 <CHANGES>                                         0
 <NET-INCOME>                                 (7,608)
 <EPS-PRIMARY>                                 (0.78)
 <EPS-DILUTED>                                 (0.78)