<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE COMPANY'S SECOND QUARTER FISCAL 1998 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> FEB-02-1997 <PERIOD-END> AUG-02-1997 <CASH> 9,106 <SECURITIES> 8,518 <RECEIVABLES> 31,572 <ALLOWANCES> 3,899 <INVENTORY> 123,466 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 176,645 <PP&E> 101,901 <DEPRECIATION> 60,523 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 227,506 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 58,826 <BONDS> 75,082 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 7,938 <COMMON> 26,141 <OTHER-SE> 36,496 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 227,506 <SALES> 234,209 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 234,209 <CGS> 137,209 <TOTAL-COSTS> 137,209 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,718 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,073 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,376 <INCOME-TAX> 61 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,315 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,315 <EPS-PRIMARY> .23 <EPS-DILUTED> .23