<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PATHMARK
STORES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE 26 WEEKS ENDED AUGUST
3, 1996 AND CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF AUGUST 3, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-03-1996
<CASH>                                           8,865
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   12,265
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (1,323)
<INVENTORY>                                    207,433
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               275,009
<PP&E>                                         978,596
<DEPRECIATION>                               (379,376)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 963,899
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          456,971
<BONDS>                                      1,205,677
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                 (1,031,412)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   963,899
<SALES>                                      1,955,684
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,955,684
<CGS>                                        1,374,122
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,374,122
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    72
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            (80,359)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (10,324)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,020
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (6,304)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  (877)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (7,181)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0