<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-31-1998             DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998             MAR-31-1999             JUN-30-1999             SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                          84,714                  24,661                  40,072                  22,080
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0                       0                       0                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                    154,719                 194,340                 205,504                 276,240
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               254,074                 232,938                 261,892                 312,313
<PP&E>                                         199,201                 209,947                 223,650                 234,534
<DEPRECIATION>                                (67,740)                (73,446)                (78,905)                (82,936)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 436,768                 422,704                 459,336                 525,210
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          129,316                  96,801                 120,334                 135,463
<BONDS>                                         53,759                  81,309                  83,689                 118,706
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                  28,584                  29,326                  33,228
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           652                     656                     657                     658
<OTHER-SE>                                     261,923                  222,37                 238,563                 253,475
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   436,768                 422,704                 459,336                 525,210
<SALES>                                      1,073,887                 258,091                 546,239                 845,107
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,073,887                 258,091                 546,239                 845,107
<CGS>                                          682,689                 168,391                 353,223                 544,769
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  682,689                 168,391                 353,223                 544,769
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               260,684                  69,249                 146,332                 225,734
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,613                     864                   2,189                   3,674
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                125,901                  19,587                  44,495                  70,648
<INCOME-TAX>                                    44,583                   5,241                  14,781                  24,949
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             81,318                  14,346                  29,714                  45,699
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    81,318                  14,346                  29,714                  45,699
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.79                    0.14                    0.29                    0.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.71                    0.13                    0.26                    0.37