<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-29-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1999 <CASH> 9,558 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 54,069 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 913,617 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,053,787 <PP&E> 887,202 <DEPRECIATION> 357,513 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,982,133 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 604,779 <BONDS> 347,400 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 69 <OTHER-SE> 651,918 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,982,133 <SALES> 1,445,501 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,445,501 <CGS> 1,053,855 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,053,855 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 54,719 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,747 <INCOME-PRETAX> 37,456 <INCOME-TAX> 15,357 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 22,099 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> (4,500) <NET-INCOME> 17,599 <EPS-BASIC> 0.25 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.25