<ARTICLE>                     5
 <MULTIPLIER>   1,000
       
                                                         
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      3-MOS              6-MOS             9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>            JAN-31-1998        JAN-31-1998       JAN-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                 MAY-24-1997        AUG-16-1997       NOV-08-1997
<CASH>                            64,152             39,794           117,375
<SECURITIES>                           0                  0                 0
<RECEIVABLES>                     25,265             24,105           109,912
<ALLOWANCES>                           0                  0                 0
<INVENTORY>                      624,356            629,631         1,200,557
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                 763,910            749,959         1,561,661
<PP&E>                         1,658,881          1,643,688         2,659,164
<DEPRECIATION>                   660,886            679,480           717,181
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 1,787,894          1,742,109         4,573,261
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>            542,208            499,465         1,165,813
<BONDS>                          558,089            525,213         1,900,504
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  0                  0                 0
<PREFERRED>                            0                  0                 0
<COMMON>                             582                580               880
<OTHER-SE>                       591,555            614,986         1,284,145
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   1,787,894          1,742,109         4,573,261
<SALES>                        1,193,936          2,150,951         3,611,323
<TOTAL-REVENUES>               1,193,936          2,150,951         3,611,323
<CGS>                            838,515          1,506,871         2,534,718
<TOTAL-COSTS>                    320,428            568,279           945,319
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                       0                  0                 0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                       0                  0                 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>               136,007             23,577            46,440
<INCOME-PRETAX>                   21,386             52,224            84,846
<INCOME-TAX>                       8,127             19,845            34,190
<INCOME-CONTINUING>               13,259             32,379            50,656
<DISCONTINUED>                         0                  0                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        0                  0           (91,210)
<CHANGES>                              0                  0                 0
<NET-INCOME>                      13,259             32,379           (40,554)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                       0.25               0.61             (0.67)
<EPS-DILUTED>                       0.24               0.58             (0.64)