<ARTICLE>       5
<LEGEND>        THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS DATA EXTRACTED FROM THE CONDENSED
                CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND THE CONDENSED 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>                   Nov-01-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  9-MOS
<CASH>                               4,590
<SECURITIES>                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                            0
<ALLOWANCES>                             0
<INVENTORY>                        216,659
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                   231,093
<PP&E>                             176,738
<DEPRECIATION>                     101,070
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     312,934
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>              163,763
<BONDS>                             41,435
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                    0
<PREFERRED>                              0
<COMMON>                                99
<OTHER-SE>                         101,083
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>       312,934
<SALES>                            329,273
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                   329,273
<CGS>                              206,821
<TOTAL-COSTS>                      206,821
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                   119,284
<LOSS-PROVISION>                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   4,354
<INCOME-PRETAX>                     (1,186)
<INCOME-TAX>                          (470)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                      0
<DISCONTINUED>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                          0
<CHANGES>                                0
<NET-INCOME>                          (716)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                        (0.07)
<EPS-DILUTED>                        (0.07)