<ARTICLE>           5
<LEGEND>            THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS DATE 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>                        JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       6-MOS
<CASH>                                   83,797
<SECURITIES>                                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                                 0
<ALLOWANCES>                                  0
<INVENTORY>                             398,726
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                        502,248
<PP&E>                                  260,867
<DEPRECIATION>                          124,198
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          716,786
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                   242,282
<BONDS>                                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                         0
<PREFERRED>                                   0
<COMMON>                                    529
<OTHER-SE>                              435,640
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>            716,786
<SALES>                                 564,294
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                        564,294
<CGS>                                   356,780
<TOTAL-COSTS>                           356,780
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                        211,714
<LOSS-PROVISION>                              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          892
<INCOME-PRETAX>                          (4,200)
<INCOME-TAX>                             (2,139)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           0
<DISCONTINUED>                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                               0
<CHANGES>                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                             (2,953)
<EPS-BASIC>                             (0.06)
<EPS-DILUTED>                             (0.06)