<ARTICLE>                     5
 <MULTIPLIER>   1,000
       
                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                     12-MOS              12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             FEB-3-1996          FEB-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                  FEB-3-1996          FEB-1-1997
<CASH>                                            41,849              48,769
<SECURITIES>                                           0                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                     24,683              23,729
<ALLOWANCES>                                           0                   0
<INVENTORY>                                      520,555             604,910
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 632,813             737,783
<PP&E>                                         1,544,691           1,554,869
<DEPRECIATION>                                   530,543             625,104
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,669,753           1,692,020
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            349,731             504,581
<BONDS>                                          656,260             521,512
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0                   0
<PREFERRED>                                            0                   0
<COMMON>                                             539                 573
<OTHER-SE>                                       568,856             565,331
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,669,753           1,692,020
<SALES>                                        3,422,718           3,724,839
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               3,422,718           3,724,839
<CGS>                                          2,449,204           2,619,312
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    885,087             971,667
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       0                   0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       0                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                39,578              39,432
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   48,849              94,428
<INCOME-TAX>                                      18,563              35,883
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               30,286              58,545
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0                   0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0                   0
<CHANGES>                                              0                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                      30,286              58,545
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       0.57                1.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       0.53                1.05