<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 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>                                           6,389
<SECURITIES>                                    22,212
<RECEIVABLES>                                   17,374
<ALLOWANCES>                                     2,424
<INVENTORY>                                     17,638
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                68,409
<PP&E>                                         102,771
<DEPRECIATION>                                  22,852
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 174,791
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           58,074
<BONDS>                                         95,777
<COMMON>                                            66
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                       9,217
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   174,791
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               276,093
<CGS>                                          202,095
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  274,059
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               5,460
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,034
<INCOME-TAX>                                     (895)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,139
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,139
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.24
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.24