<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS, CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE TWENTY-SIX WEEKS
ENDED AUGUST 2, 1998.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-02-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-02-1998
<CASH>                                           7,578
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   41,420
<ALLOWANCES>                                     2,433
<INVENTORY>                                    368,534
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               440,754
<PP&E>                                         180,395
<DEPRECIATION>                                (89,985)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 570,344
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          189,794
<BONDS>                                         81,250
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           277
<OTHER-SE>                                      85,448
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   570,344
<SALES>                                        493,124
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               439,124
<CGS>                                          267,746
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  462,909
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              16,608
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 13,607
<INCOME-TAX>                                     5,017
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              8,590
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (6,767)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,823
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.07
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.07