<ARTICLE>           5
<LEGEND>            THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS DATA EXTRACTED FROM THE
                    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS, AND THE
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS ON 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-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>              FEB-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                MAY-02-1998
<PERIOD-TYPE>               3-MOS
<CASH>                      20,275
<SECURITIES>                 0
<RECEIVABLES>                0
<ALLOWANCES>                 0
<INVENTORY>                 189,902
<CURRENT-ASSETS>            216,276
<PP&E>                      179,379
<DEPRECIATION>              103,902
<TOTAL-ASSETS>              299,795
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>       123,350
<BONDS>                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>        0
<PREFERRED>                  0
<COMMON>                        214
<OTHER-SE>                  162,700
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>299,795
<SALES>                     145,062
<TOTAL-REVENUES>            145,062
<CGS>                        92,605
<TOTAL-COSTS>                92,605
<OTHER-EXPENSES>             47,334
<LOSS-PROVISION>              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>              841
<INCOME-PRETAX>               4,282
<INCOME-TAX>                  1,670
<INCOME-CONTINUING>           0
<DISCONTINUED>                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>               0
<CHANGES>                     0
<NET-INCOME>                  2,612
<EPS-PRIMARY>                   .13
<EPS-DILUTED>                   .12