<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM     ?
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1997             JAN-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-01-1996             FEB-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-31-1997             JAN-31-1996
<CASH>                                     138,784,600              96,854,200
<SECURITIES>                                36,927,500              55,281,600
<RECEIVABLES>                                6,552,800               3,409,500
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                133,323,200              56,633,900
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           314,743,100             193,701,900
<PP&E>                                      61,482,000              26,182,000
<DEPRECIATION>                               6,559,800               2,794,100
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             375,834,400             243,579,900
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      146,913,900              85,398,400
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                         2,800                   2,600
<OTHER-SE>                                 218,553,600             149,267,200
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               375,834,400             243,579,900
<SALES>                                    256,397,400             119,819,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           261,727,500<F1>         123,937,900<F1>
<CGS>                                      147,525,900              68,969,300
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              228,095,700<F2>         104,945,600<F2>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             8,057,700               3,731,400
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             831,500                 703,100
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             24,742,600              14,557,800
<INCOME-TAX>                                 8,783,000               4,835,800
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         15,959,600               9,722,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                    2,041,700                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                13,918,900               9,722,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .48                     .38
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .48                     .38
<FN>
<F1>INCLUDES SALES, FRANCHISE FEES & ROYALTIES AND INTEREST INCOME.
<F2>INCLUDES CGS, STORE OPERATING AND STORE OPENING COSTS.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>