<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM UNAUDITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND UNAUDITED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 16 WEEKS ENDED MAY 24, 1998
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   4-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-02-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-24-1998
<CASH>                                          75,841
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   35,679
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (4,140)
<INVENTORY>                                    577,398
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               703,959
<PP&E>                                       1,336,070
<DEPRECIATION>                                (60,298)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,946,815
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,133,748
<BONDS>                                      2,939,599
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            15
<OTHER-SE>                                     556,068
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,946,815
<SALES>                                      1,872,144
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,872,144
<CGS>                                        1,498,337
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,498,337
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               492,357
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              74,683
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              (193,233)
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (48,385)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          (144,848)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                196,674
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 (341,522)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0