<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S FIRST QUARTER 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>                     
<MULTIPLIER>                  1                                             
                                                                           
                                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                         
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       SEP-30-1997                     
<PERIOD-START>                          OCT-01-1996                       
<PERIOD-END>                            DEC-31-1996                       
<CASH>                                  1,262,330                         
<SECURITIES>                            0                                  
<RECEIVABLES>                           2,502,182                        
<ALLOWANCES>                            0                                    
<INVENTORY>                             52,424,019                      
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                        62,049,222                       
<PP&E>                                  60,823,257                       
<DEPRECIATION>                          15,432,729                       
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          158,616,548                      
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                   22,285,483                       
<BONDS>                                 96,583,687                       
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   0                                
<PREFERRED>                             11,500,000                      
<COMMON>                                35,593                           
<OTHER-SE>                              23,795,016              
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>            158,616,548                      
<SALES>                                 61,233,328                       
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                        61,233,328                       
<CGS>                                   27,500,762              
<TOTAL-COSTS>                           27,500,762                       
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                        0                                
<LOSS-PROVISION>                        0                                
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                      3,332,138                        
<INCOME-PRETAX>                         1,211,529                        
<INCOME-TAX>                            743,468                          
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                     468,061                          
<DISCONTINUED>                          0                                
<EXTRAORDINARY>                         0                                
<CHANGES>                               0                       
<NET-INCOME>                            468,061                          
<EPS-PRIMARY>                           .06                              
<EPS-DILUTED>                           .06