<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



                                     AMOUNT
ITEM DESCRIPTION                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
- ----------------                     -------------------------------------

                                  

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    JAN-29-2000
<PERIOD-START>                       JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                         MAY-01-1999
<PERIOD-TYPE>                        3-MOS
<CASH>                                    46,944
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  0
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                              412,754
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                         481,751
<PP&E>                                   262,766
<DEPRECIATION>                           131,308
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           689,447
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                    231,880
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                     523
<OTHER-SE>                               423,846
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             689,447
<SALES>                                  287,019
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         287,019
<CGS>                                    182,075
<TOTAL-COSTS>                            182,075
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                         119,421
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           427
<INCOME-PRETAX>                          (14,904)
<INCOME-TAX>                              (6,260)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            0
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                              (8,644)
<EPS-BASIC>                               (.17)
<EPS-DILUTED>                               (.17)