<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE CHILDREN'S PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC. AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-01-1998
<CASH>                                             868
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    2,956
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     30,845
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                51,903
<PP&E>                                          54,606
<DEPRECIATION>                                  15,854
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  98,308
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           34,233
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         2,478
<OTHER-SE>                                      58,668
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    98,308
<SALES>                                         48,014
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                48,014
<CGS>                                           32,525
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   14,345
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 100
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   (841)
<INCOME-TAX>                                      (330)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               (511)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                      (511)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (0.02)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (0.02)