<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                             1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               FEB-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   AUG-17-1996
<CASH>                                              44,837
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       46,752
<ALLOWANCES>                                             0
<INVENTORY>                                        560,790
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   694,990
<PP&E>                                           1,629,617
<DEPRECIATION>                                    (592,536)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   1,777,327
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              455,401
<BONDS>                                            636,469<F1>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               270
<OTHER-SE>                                         595,903
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     1,777,327
<SALES>                                          1,893,942
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 1,893,942
<CGS>                                            1,336,484
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      495,471
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  22,282
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     39,705
<INCOME-TAX>                                        15,088
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 24,617
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        24,617
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .86
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .86
<FN>
<F1>  Long-term debt and mortgages.
</FN>