<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>              Jan-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                 Feb-02-1997
<PERIOD-END>                   May-03-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  3-MOS
<CASH>                              10,303
<SECURITIES>                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                            0
<ALLOWANCES>                             0
<INVENTORY>                        159,699 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                   179,693 
<PP&E>                             169,906 
<DEPRECIATION>                      99,645 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     254,095 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>               98,845 
<BONDS>                             48,175 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                    0
<PREFERRED>                              0
<COMMON>                                98
<OTHER-SE>                         100,847 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>       254,095 
<SALES>                            109,512 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                   109,512 
<CGS>                               70,248 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                       70,248 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                    38,935 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   1,742 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                     (1,413) 
<INCOME-TAX>                          (551)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                      0
<DISCONTINUED>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                          0
<CHANGES>                                0
<NET-INCOME>                          (862)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                        (0.09)
<EPS-DILUTED>                        (0.09)