<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-27-1998             MAR-27-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JUN-28-1997             MAR-29-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-26-1997             SEP-26-1997
<CASH>                                          16,815                  16,815
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    8,633                   8,633
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                     12,456                  12,456
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                       0
<PP&E>                                         186,913                 186,913
<DEPRECIATION>                                  56,565                  56,565
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 560,359                 560,359<F1>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0                       0
<BONDS>                                        414,905                 414,905<F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                        53,810                  53,810
<OTHER-SE>                                    (37,042)                (37,042)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   560,359                 560,359<F3>
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                77,702                 149,797
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   52,074                 100,310
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                19,935                  38,042<F4>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              11,066                  21,129
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (5,371)                 (9,684)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (1,105)                 (1,905)<F5>
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (4,266)                 (7,779)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (4,266)                 (7,779)<F6>
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.41)                   (.74)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
<FN>
<F1>Includes Advance Rental Payments of $47,540, Contract Rights of $217,371,
and Goodwill of $109,027, each net of accumulated amortization, at
September 26, 1997.
<F2>Includes $196,655 of 11 3/4% senior notes and a promissary note of $15,000,
as well as debt outstanding under a credit facility of $203,250 at
September 26, 1997.
<F3>Includes Accrued Commissions of $13,065 and Accrued Interest of $10,871,
at September 26, 1997.
<F4>Other Expenses include stock based compensation charges of $545 for the
six months ended September 26, 1997.
<F5>The provision (benefit) for income taxes consists of $150 currently payable
and ($2,055) deferred, for the six months ended September 26, 1997.
<F6>In addition, EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation
and amortization), before the deduction for the stock-based compensation
charge, of $46,570 was generated for the reported period.  EBITDA is a
meaningful measure of a company's ability to service debt.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>