<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 1,702 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 3,097 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 60,561 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 69,896 <PP&E> 129,989 <DEPRECIATION> 24,935 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 185,587 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 41,470 <BONDS> 83,487 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 596 <OTHER-SE> 45,960 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 185,587 <SALES> 83,152 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 83,152 <CGS> 56,511 <TOTAL-COSTS> 56,511 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,873 <INCOME-PRETAX> (215) <INCOME-TAX> (70) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (145) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (145) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.02) <EPS-DILUTED> (.02)