<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION FROM THE COMPANY'S FORM S-3
FILED ON JULY 12, 2000, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULES FOR ALL PERIODS ARE RESTATED
TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE POOLING-OF-INTEREST MERGER WITH DOLLAR EXPRESS, INC.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             MAR-31-1998             JUN-30-1998             SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                          48,912                   9,834                  11,462                  11,156
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0                       0                       0                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                    123,053                 167,135                 194,186                 229,656
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               185,073                 189,890                 218,545                 257,677
<PP&E>                                         142,582                 153,105                 163,136                 183,540
<DEPRECIATION>                                (48,189)                (52,258)                (56,484)                (61,127)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 328,282                 339,418                 373,582                 428,078
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          114,552                 100,448                 105,387                 146,915
<BONDS>                                         42,622                  56,832                  79,303                 111,929
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           443                     445                     651                     651
<OTHER-SE>                                     172,847                 184,875                 201,509                 215,231
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   328,282                 339,418                 373,582                 428,078
<SALES>                                        847,830                 205,641                 443,569                 681,421
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               847,830                 205,641                 443,569                 681,421
<CGS>                                          551,926                 133,769                 290,045                 441,953
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  551,926                 133,769                 290,045                 441,953
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               205,077                  57,408                 116,914                 179,839
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               3,686                     747                   1,872                   3,478
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 87,141                  13,717                  34,738                  56,151
<INCOME-TAX>                                    31,323                   4,899                  11,781                  19,340
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             55,818                   8,818                  22,957                  36,811
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    55,818                   8,818                  22,957                  36,811
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.55                    0.09                    0.22                    0.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.50                    0.08                    0.20                    0.32