<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000724606 <NAME> Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 7-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-27-1997 <PERIOD-START> DEC-29-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUL-12-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 880 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 8,660 <ALLOWANCES> 133 <INVENTORY> 9,289 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 28,056 <PP&E> 195,206 <DEPRECIATION> 74,403 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 192,445 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 20,075 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1 <OTHER-SE> 89,924 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 192,445 <SALES> 127,377 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 130,330 <CGS> 46,576 <TOTAL-COSTS> 126,322 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 501 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,743 <INCOME-PRETAX> (256) <INCOME-TAX> (102) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (154) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (154) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.01) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.01)