<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>                   Aug-02-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  6-MOS
<CASH>                           9,757
<SECURITIES>                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                        0
<ALLOWANCES>                         0
<INVENTORY>                    151,563 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>               171,357 
<PP&E>                         168,729 
<DEPRECIATION>                  99,911 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 244,975 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>           96,640 
<BONDS>                         41,459 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                0
<PREFERRED>                          0
<COMMON>                            98
<OTHER-SE>                      99,987 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   244,975 
<SALES>                        214,536 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>               214,536 
<CGS>                          135,746 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                  135,746 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                78,284 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>               3,285 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                 (2,779) 
<INCOME-TAX>                    (1,084)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                      0
<CHANGES>                            0
<NET-INCOME>                    (1,695)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                    (0.17)
<EPS-DILUTED>                    (0.17)