<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> NOV-02-1996 <CASH> 25,727 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 84,308 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 459,182 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 641,834 <PP&E> 126,668 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,184,780 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 234,508 <BONDS> 181,434 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 358 <OTHER-SE> 355,159 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,184,780 <SALES> 1,218,324 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,218,324 <CGS> 696,977 <TOTAL-COSTS> 696,977 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (1840) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 29,671 <INCOME-PRETAX> 127,640 <INCOME-TAX> 51,058 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 76,582 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 76,582 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.09 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.05