<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> FEB-02-1997 <PERIOD-END> NOV-01-1997 <CASH> 8,366 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 752,227 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 824,770 <PP&E> 887,769 <DEPRECIATION> 163,750 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,607,068 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 356,655 <BONDS> 311,038 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 788 <OTHER-SE> 873,774 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,607,068 <SALES> 1,982,257 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,982,257 <CGS> 1,317,121 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,849,584 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 18,405 <INCOME-PRETAX> 114,268 <INCOME-TAX> 45,593 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 68,675 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 68,675 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.91 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.90