Exhibit 31.1

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF SARBANES-OXLEY ACT 2002

I, Robert J. Higgins, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trans World Entertainment Corporation (the Company), certify that:

| | (1) | I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10Q of the Company;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
| | --- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| | (2) | Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;      
|
| | (3) | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations
and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;                            
|
| | (4) | The Companys other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a  15(f) and 15-d-15(e)) for the Company and we have:
|
| |     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|
| |     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|
| |     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|
| |     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|
| | (5) | The Companys other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Companys auditors and the audit committee
of the Companys board of directors:                                                                                               
|
| |     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|
| |     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|

| | Dated: |  | December 11, 2008 |  | /s/ Robert J. Higgins                
| | ------ |  | ----------------- |  | -------------------------------------
| |        |  |                   |  | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 
| |        |  |                   |  | Trans World Entertainment Corporation

---