<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THIRTY-NINE WEEK PERIOD ENDED NOV. 29, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-28-1998 <PERIOD-START> MAR-02-1997 <PERIOD-END> NOV-29-1997 <CASH> 9,061 <SECURITIES> 10,470 <RECEIVABLES> 10,809 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 143,004 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 180,555 <PP&E> 74,995 <DEPRECIATION> 19,907 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 257,155 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 64,730 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 260 <OTHER-SE> 187,687 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 257,155 <SALES> 302,192 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 302,192 <CGS> 208,638 <TOTAL-COSTS> 208,638 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 67,968 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (2,058) <INCOME-PRETAX> 27,644 <INCOME-TAX> 10,575 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 17,069 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 17,069 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> $0.64