<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE CHILDREN'S PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC. AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    JAN-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                       FEB-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                         MAY-02-1998
<CASH>                                      3,570     
<SECURITIES>                                    0
<RECEIVABLES>                               2,940     
<ALLOWANCES>                                    0     
<INVENTORY>                                17,977     
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           40,402     
<PP&E>                                     49,492     
<DEPRECIATION>                             14,085
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             83,022     
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      18,726     
<BONDS>                                         0     
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0     
<PREFERRED>                                     0     
<COMMON>                                    2,471     
<OTHER-SE>                                 58,990     
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               83,022     
<SALES>                                    55,999     
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           55,999     
<CGS>                                      33,866     
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              15,788     
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                0     
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                0     
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             59     
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             4,623     
<INCOME-TAX>                                1,881     
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         2,742     
<DISCONTINUED>                                  0     
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 0     
<CHANGES>                                       0     
<NET-INCOME>                                2,742    
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                0.11     
<EPS-DILUTED>                                0.11