<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FROM 10K FOR
PERIOD ENDED JANUARY 29, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-29-1997             JAN-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-01-1996             FEB-02-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-29-1997             JAN-31-1996
<CASH>                                       1,325,495               1,041,556
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  279,043                 156,653
<ALLOWANCES>                                    25,000                  25,000
<INVENTORY>                                  9,109,823               7,894,596
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            11,530,515              10,274,177
<PP&E>                                      66,381,888              65,994,695
<DEPRECIATION>                              20,565,244              16,614,546
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              60,428,410              66,963,068
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        7,521,474              10,384,283
<BONDS>                                     26,224,552<F1>          28,789,202<F1>
<COMMON>                                    38,558,943              38,554,192
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       10,352,468<F4>          10,123,928<F4>
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                (22,229,027)             (20,888,537)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                60,428,410              66,963,068
<SALES>                                    140,162,273             145,938,219
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           140,162,273             145,938,219
<CGS>                                      104,362,838             109,844,988
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               36,002,537              43,676,719
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             1,279,054               2,292,563
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           2,599,552<F2>           3,198,083<F2>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             (1,482,156)             (9,876,051)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         (1,710,696)<F3>        (10,104,591)<F3>
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                (1,710,696)            (10,104,581)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (0.28)                  (1.64)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (0.28)                  (1.64)
<FN>
<F1>SHORT TERM PORTION INCLUDED IN CURRENT LIABILITIES
<F2>INCLUDED IN OTHER EXPENSES
<F3>LOSS NET OF ACCRETION OF WARRANTS
<F4>MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE FOR $11 MILLION
</FN>
         

</TABLE>