<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