<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
     FROM THE COMPANY'S SECOND QUARTER 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED
     MARCH 31, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
     REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                         1
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                       3,787,961
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                3,286,224
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                 62,774,726
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            80,678,271
<PP&E>                                      66,701,726
<DEPRECIATION>                              30,442,566
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             165,974,696
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       53,532,000
<BONDS>                                     96,320,464
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                 11,500,000
<COMMON>                                        35,099
<OTHER-SE>                                  (3,441,379)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               165,974,696
<SALES>                                    143,211,449
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           143,211,449
<CGS>                                       71,988,108
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               61,597,961
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           7,527,887
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              2,097,493
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,031,137
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          1,066,356
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,066,356
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.12