<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)