<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> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-1-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAY-25-1996 <CASH> 38,800 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 23,024 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 559,009 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 664,437 <PP&E> 1,578,088 <DEPRECIATION> (568,972) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,704,559 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 414,010 <BONDS> 616,655<F1> <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 270 <OTHER-SE> 580,574 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,704,559 <SALES> 1,040,028 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,040,028 <CGS> 737,956 <TOTAL-COSTS> 273,736 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,104 <INCOME-PRETAX> 15,232 <INCOME-TAX> 5,788 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 9,444 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 9,444 <EPS-PRIMARY> .33 <EPS-DILUTED> .33 <FN> <F1> Long term debt and mortgages </FN>