
<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION FROM THE COMPANY'S FORM
10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE  TO  SUCH  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS.  THE  FINANCIAL  DATA  SCHEDULE  FOR
SEPTEMBER  30,  1998 IS  RESTATED  TO GIVE  EFFECT  TO THE  POOLING-OF-INTERESTS
MERGERS WITH STEP AHEAD INVESTMENTS, INC. AND TEHAN'S MERCHANDISING, INC.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>                                  1,000


<S>                             <C>                    <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1999            DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                    SEP-30-1999            SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                  19,173                 9,355
<SECURITIES>                                 0                     0
<RECEIVABLES>                                0                     0
<ALLOWANCES>                                 0                     0
<INVENTORY>                            252,472               210,747
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                       283,939               236,145
<PP&E>                                 209,581               164,215
<DEPRECIATION>                          69,648                50,160
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                         482,358               398,129
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                  121,218               136,739
<BONDS>                                      0                     0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        0                     0
<PREFERRED>                                  0                     0
<COMMON>                                   620                   613
<OTHER-SE>                             300,596               202,737
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>           482,358               398,129
<SALES>                                745,631               595,816
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                       745,631               595,816
<CGS>                                  473,471               379,754
<TOTAL-COSTS>                          473,471               379,754
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                       202,621               161,249
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             0                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       1,939                 3,290
<INCOME-PRETAX>                         67,600                51,523
<INCOME-TAX>                            25,667                19,315
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                     41,933                32,208
<DISCONTINUED>                               0                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                              0                     0
<CHANGES>                                    0                     0
<NET-INCOME>                            41,933                32,208
<EPS-BASIC>                             0.68                  0.53
<EPS-DILUTED>                             0.62                  0.48



</TABLE>
