<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 1,748 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 6,417 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 132,230 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 142,175 <PP&E> 124,292 <DEPRECIATION> (20,301) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 265,534 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 37,126 <BONDS> 17,467 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 106,319 <OTHER-SE> 39,855 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 265,534 <SALES> 608,076 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 608,076 <CGS> 483,071 <TOTAL-COSTS> 483,071 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 102,898 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,172 <INCOME-PRETAX> 14,155 <INCOME-TAX> 5,308 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 8,847 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,847 <EPS-PRIMARY> .83 <EPS-DILUTED> .83