<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (A) THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS FILED AS
PART OF THE COMPANY'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH (B) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ON FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000786110
<NAME> THE GYMBOREE CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-02-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             MAY-06-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-04-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           5,940
<SECURITIES>                                    72,941
<RECEIVABLES>                                    4,825
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     45,065
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               132,512
<PP&E>                                          70,397
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (15,532)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 187,603
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           34,026
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        60,929
<OTHER-SE>                                      79,932
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   187,603
<SALES>                                         57,898
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                57,898
<CGS>                                          (32,750)
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  (32,750)
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  6,911
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,626
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              4,285
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,285
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.17
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.17