<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> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> NOV-08-1997 <CASH> 117,375 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 109,912 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 1,200,557 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,561,661 <PP&E> 2,659,164 <DEPRECIATION> (717,181) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,573,261 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,165,813 <BONDS> 1,900,504 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 440 <OTHER-SE> 1,284,585 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,573,261 <SALES> 3,611,323 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,611,323 <CGS> 2,534,718 <TOTAL-COSTS> 945,319 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 46,440 <INCOME-PRETAX> 84,846 <INCOME-TAX> 34,190 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 50,656 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (91,210) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (40,554) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.63) <EPS-DILUTED> (.63)