<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENT OF CBRL GROUP,  INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FOR THE
SIX MONTHS ENDED  JANUARY 28, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

</LEGEND>
<CIK>                        0001067294
<NAME>                       CBRL GROUP, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JUL-28-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   JAN-28-2000
<CASH>                                         4,517
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  7,585
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    91,760
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               118,844
<PP&E>                                         1,311,008
<DEPRECIATION>                                 255,023
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,291,999
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          120,104
<BONDS>                                        329,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       626
<OTHER-SE>                                     810,646
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,291,999
<SALES>                                        865,466
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               865,777
<CGS>                                          308,648
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  459,961
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               52,284
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             11,633
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                33,486
<INCOME-TAX>                                   12,624
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            20,862
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   20,862
<EPS-BASIC>                                    .36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .36