<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENT OF CBRL GROUP,  INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FOR THE
NINE MONTHS  ENDED APRIL 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>                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               JUL-28-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                  JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                    APR-28-2000
<CASH>                                          14,264
<SECURITIES>                                    0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   8,134
<ALLOWANCES>                                    0
<INVENTORY>                                     94,494
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                127,524
<PP&E>                                          1,345,061
<DEPRECIATION>                                  270,848
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  1,317,689
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           159,771
<BONDS>                                         315,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0
<PREFERRED>                                     0
<COMMON>                                        626
<OTHER-SE>                                      810,810
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    1,317,689
<SALES>                                         1,301,300
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                1,301,763
<CGS>                                           456,778
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   695,269
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                75,567
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              17,746
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 56,670
<INCOME-TAX>                                    21,365
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             35,305
<DISCONTINUED>                                  0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 0
<CHANGES>                                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    35,305
<EPS-BASIC>                                     .61
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   .60