<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000935419 <NAME> RICK'S CABARET INTERNATIONAL, INC. <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 315,474 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 52,988 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 68,248 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 581,953 <PP&E> 7,417,932 <DEPRECIATION> (675,600) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 7,643,241 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,188,323 <BONDS> 0 <COMMON> 41,209 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 4,621,376 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 7,643,241 <SALES> 1,960,642 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,960,642 <CGS> 387,258 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,876,666 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 42,001 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 42,191 <INCOME-PRETAX> 41,975 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 41,975 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 41,975 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.01 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.01