<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF FABRI-CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. AS OF JULY 27, 1996
AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE TWENTY-SIX WEEKS THEN ENDED.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-01-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-26-1996
<CASH>                                          16,664
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    355,384
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               381,577
<PP&E>                                         173,838
<DEPRECIATION>                                  77,652
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 493,057
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          161,039
<BONDS>                                        136,883
<COMMON>                                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,005
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     179,247
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   493,057
<SALES>                                        621,480
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               621,480
<CGS>                                          346,922
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  602,285
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               8,611
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 10,584
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,969
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              6,615
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,615
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.36