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EXHIBIT 11


                               HECHINGER COMPANY
             STATEMENT REGARDING COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE


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<CAPTION>
FISCAL YEAR ENDED                               FEB. 1, 1997       FEB. 3, 1996     JAN. 28, 1995    JAN. 29, 1994    JAN. 30, 1993
                                               --------------     --------------    -------------    -------------    --------------
<S>                                            <C>                <C>               <C>              <C>              <C>
Net (loss) earnings                            $ (25,076,000)     $ (77,636,000)    $ (9,911,000)    $ 24,760,000     $ (26,272,000)
                                                                                                                    
Interest on 5-1/2% convertible                                                                                      
debentures, net of tax benefit                             -                  -                -                -                 -
                                               --------------     --------------    -------------    -------------    --------------
                                                                                                                    
Net (loss) earnings for primary and fully                                                                           
diluted (loss) earnings per share              $ (25,076,000)     $ (77,636,000)    $ (9,911,000)    $ 24,760,000     $ (26,272,000)
                                               ==============     ==============    =============    =============    ==============
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
Weighted average shares outstanding               42,165,976         42,118,459       42,011,252       41,743,852        41,694,182
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
Dilutive effect of stock options,                                                                                   
restricted stock and performance                                                                                    
share awards after application                                                                                      
of the treasury stock method                               -                  -                -          198,075                 -
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
Additional shares issuable assuming full                                                                            
conversion of the 5-1/2% debentures into                                                                            
Class A common stock                                       -                  -                -                -                 -
                                               --------------     --------------    -------------    -------------    --------------
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
Common and common equivalent shares                                                                                 
outstanding for primary (loss) earnings per                                                                         
share                                             42,165,976         42,118,459       42,011,252       41,941,927        41,694,182
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
Additional dilution from stock options,                                                                             
restricted stock and performance share                                                                              
awards after application of the                                                                                     
treasury stock method                                      -                  -                -           33,011                 -
                                               --------------     --------------    -------------    -------------    --------------
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
Common and common equivalent shares                                                                                 
outstanding for fully diluted (loss)                                                                                
earnings per share                                42,165,976         42,118,459       42,011,252       41,974,938        41,694,182
                                               ==============     ==============    =============    =============    ==============
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
Primary (loss) earnings per common share       $       (0.59)     $       (1.84)    $      (0.24)    $       0.59     $       (0.63)
                                               ==============     ==============    =============    =============    ==============
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
Fully diluted (loss) earnings per common                                                                            
share                                          $       (0.59)     $       (1.84)    $      (0.24)    $       0.59     $       (0.63)
                                               ==============     ==============    =============    =============    ==============
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