<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-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>              FEB-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-TYPE>               9-MOS
<CASH>                      33,164
<SECURITIES>                0
<RECEIVABLES>               0
<ALLOWANCES>                0
<INVENTORY>                 228,514
<CURRENT-ASSETS>            266,859
<PP&E>                      193,820
<DEPRECIATION>              106,335
<TOTAL-ASSETS>              362,238
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>       167,218
<BONDS>                     0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>       0
<PREFERRED>                 0
<COMMON>                    328
<OTHER-SE>                  171,772
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>362,238
<SALES>                     430,658
<TOTAL-REVENUES>            430,658
<CGS>                       269,532
<TOTAL-COSTS>               269,532
<OTHER-EXPENSES>            143,694
<LOSS-PROVISION>            0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>          1,723
<INCOME-PRETAX>             15,709
<INCOME-TAX>                6,126
<INCOME-CONTINUING>         0
<DISCONTINUED>              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>             0
<CHANGES>                   0
<NET-INCOME>                9,583
<EPS-PRIMARY>               .30
<EPS-DILUTED>               .29