<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 17,655 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 15,172 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 117,093 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 153,463 <PP&E> 32,722 <DEPRECIATION> 3,519 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 224,884 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 107,610 <BONDS> 114,272 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 71,144 <OTHER-SE> 16,765 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 224,884 <SALES> 442,409 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 515,654 <CGS> 400,938 <TOTAL-COSTS> 434,563 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 63,094 <LOSS-PROVISION> 139 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,099 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,061 <INCOME-TAX> 4,661 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,400 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,400 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.84 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.81