<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



								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>						         86,682
<SECURITIES>							  0
<RECEIVABLES>							  0
<ALLOWANCES>							  0
<INVENTORY>							495,744
<CURRENT-ASSETS>					605,410
<PP&E>								274,677
<DEPRECIATION>						132,881
<TOTAL-ASSETS>						824,081
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>				344,612
<BONDS>									  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>					  0
<PREFERRED>								  0
<COMMON>								531
<OTHER-SE>							440,731
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>		441,262
<SALES>								840,262
<TOTAL-REVENUES>					840,262
<CGS>								535,767
<TOTAL-COSTS>						535,767
<OTHER-EXPENSES>					302,290
<LOSS-PROVISION>						  0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>						784
<INCOME-PRETAX>						  1,421
<INCOME-TAX>							597
<INCOME-CONTINUING>						824
<DISCONTINUED>							  0
<EXTRAORDINARY>							  0
<CHANGES>								  0
<NET-INCOME>							824
<EPS-BASIC>						    .02
<EPS-DILUTED>						    .02