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                                                                      EXHIBIT 15

                           Accountants' Acknowledgment
                           ---------------------------



Venator Group, Inc.
New York, New York

Board of Directors:

Re:  Registration  Statements Numbers 33-10783,  33-91888,  33-91886,  33-97832,
     333- 07215,  333-21131 and  333-62425 on Form S-8 and Numbers  33-43334 and
     33-86300 on Form S-3

With  respect  to  the  subject  registration  statements,  we  acknowledge  our
awareness  of the use therein of our report  dated  November 19, 1998 related to
our review of interim financial information.

Pursuant to Rule 436(c)  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  such report is not
considered  a part of a  registration  statement  prepared  or  certified  by an
accountant or a report prepared or certified by an accountant within the meaning
of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.




/s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
New York, New York
December 14, 1998