<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-29-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> OCT-30-1999 <CASH> 19,234 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 76,470 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 1,275,167 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,429,989 <PP&E> 955,231 <DEPRECIATION> 398,029 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,575,454 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 967,462 <BONDS> 575,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 69 <OTHER-SE> 654,403 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,575,454 <SALES> 2,161,404 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,161,404 <CGS> 1,569,268 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,569,268 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 84,607 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 15,352 <INCOME-PRETAX> 43,197 <INCOME-TAX> 17,711 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 25,486 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> (4,500) <NET-INCOME> 20,986 <EPS-BASIC> 0.30 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.29