<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ADVANCE HOLDING CORPORATION AS OF JULY 18, 
1998, JANUARY 3, 1998, AND DECEMBER 28, 1996 AND FOR THE TWENTY-EIGHT WEEK 
PERIOD ENDED JULY 18, 1998, AND THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 3, 1998 (53 WKS),
DECEMBER 28, 1996 (52WKS) AND DECEMBER 30, 1995 (52 WKS), AND IS QUALIFIED IN 
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER                   OTHER                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUL-18-1998             JAN-03-1998             DEC-28-1996             DEC-30-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-18-1998             JAN-03-1998             DEC-28-1996             DEC-30-1995
<CASH>                                          44,790                  15,463                  14,833                  19,888
<SECURITIES>                                         0                   2,025                   1,833                   1,749
<RECEIVABLES>                                    5,325                   3,359                       0                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                    348,523                 280,267                 252,544                 179,899
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               430,251                 324,882                 285,554                 211,904
<PP&E>                                         233,086                 212,836                 166,256                 122,933
<DEPRECIATION>                                (89,910)                (77,940)                (57,804)                (41,006)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 594,917                 461,832                 394,395                 295,088
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          281,554                 203,742                 175,474                 109,196
<BONDS>                                        397,022                 104,126                  91,703                  79,727
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                     773                     773                     773
<COMMON>                                           126                     194                     194                     194
<OTHER-SE>                                    (99,872)                 142,581                 121,356                 100,154
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   594,917                 461,832                 394,395                 295,088
<SALES>                                        544,000                 848,108                 705,983                 602,559
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               544,000                 848,108                 705,983                 602,559
<CGS>                                          332,825                 524,586                 437,615                 369,962
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  332,825                 524,586                 437,615                 369,962
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               192,817                 281,095                 228,226                 196,289
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              13,559                   6,086                   4,891                   5,028
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,116                  36,020                  35,438                  30,125
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,543                  14,733                  14,174                  12,122
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              2,573                  21,287                  21,264                  18,003
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,573                  21,287                  21,264                  18,003
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.00                    0.00                    0.00                    0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.00                    0.00                    0.00                    0.00
        

</TABLE>