<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
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999             MAR-31-2000
<CASH>                                         181,587                  83,711
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                    192,838                 276,811
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               395,106                 377,986
<PP&E>                                         247,414                 264,231
<DEPRECIATION>                                (90,046)                (90,046)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 611,233                 603,318
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          169,273                 137,254
<BONDS>                                        108,773                 112,380
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           35,171                  36,247
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           659                     662
<OTHER-SE>                                     315,579                 334,968
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   611,233                 603,318
<SALES>                                      1,351,820                 327,111
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,351,820                 327,111
<CGS>                                          854,567                 213,538
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  854,567                 213,538
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               321,657                  90,354
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               5,686                     500
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                169,910                  22,719
<INCOME-TAX>                                    63,333                   8,767
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            106,577                  13,952
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   106,577                  13,952
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.01                    0.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.92                    0.12