<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-03-1996 <PERIOD-END> AUG-12-1995 <CASH> 36,048 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 23,240 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 501,924 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 607,577 <PP&E> 1,467,936 <DEPRECIATION> 492,793 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,604,892 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 383,984 <BONDS> 580,337 <COMMON> 270 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 553,724 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,604,892 <SALES> 1,712,488 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,712,488 <CGS> 1,224,558 <TOTAL-COSTS> 446,572 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 19,171 <INCOME-PRETAX> 22,187 <INCOME-TAX> 8,431 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 13,756 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 13,756 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.48 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.48