<ARTICLE> 5

<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AS OF AUGUST 30, 1997 AND MARCH 14, 1998 AND THE STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR
THE FIFTY-TWO WEEKS ENDED AUGUST 30, 1997 AND THE TWENTY-EIGHT WEEKS ENDED MARCH
14, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATMENTS.
</LEGEND>

<CIK>  1062774
<NAME> LPA HOLDING CORP.

<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                YEAR                    7-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>            AUG-30-1997             AUG-29-1998
<PERIOD-START>               SEP-01-1996             AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                 AUG-30-1997             MAR-14-1998
<CASH>                            23,971                  24,755
<SECURITIES>                           0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                      4,976                   4,567
<ALLOWANCES>                           0                       0
<INVENTORY>                            0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                  42,441                  42,935
<PP&E>                            94,584                 101,372
<DEPRECIATION>                    33,460                  40,533
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                   171,160                 170,347
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>             35,043                  32,034
<BONDS>                           85,903                  87,345
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  3                       3
<PREFERRED>                            0                       0
<COMMON>                               9                       9
<OTHER-SE>                         3,374                   2,396
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>     171,160                 170,347
<SALES>                                0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                 302,766                 166,701
<CGS>                                  0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                    288,740                 159,310
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 9,245                   4,917
<INCOME-PRETAX>                    2,047                     898
<INCOME-TAX>                       3,264                   1,835
<INCOME-CONTINUING>              (1,217)                   (937)
<DISCONTINUED>                         0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        0                       0
<CHANGES>                              0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                     (1,217)                   (937)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                       0.00                    0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                       0.00                    0.00