<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS FILED AS
PART OF THE COMPANY'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ON FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000786110
<NAME> THE GYMBOREE CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-02-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-05-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-05-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          11,476
<SECURITIES>                                    74,983
<RECEIVABLES>                                    4,319
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     29,091
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               122,211
<PP&E>                                          62,800
<DEPRECIATION>                                  13,554
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 171,974
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           28,045
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        57,355
<OTHER-SE>                                      75,264
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   171,974
<SALES>                                         69,103
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                69,103
<CGS>                                           35,447
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   35,447
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 13,859
<INCOME-TAX>                                     5,266
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              8,593
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,593
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.34