<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000724606 <NAME> Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-26-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUL-11-1998 <CASH> 690,052 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 6,885,796 <ALLOWANCES> 187,110 <INVENTORY> 6,114,877 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 17,618,984 <PP&E> 102,475,769 <DEPRECIATION> 81,616,009 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 174,489,741 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 19,435,028 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,195 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 174,489,741 <SALES> 53,942,016 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 57,253,592 <CGS> 19,965,766 <TOTAL-COSTS> 56,913,493 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 86,545 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,407,935 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1,154,381) <INCOME-TAX> (375,000) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (779,381) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (779,381) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.07) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.07)