<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED STORES
CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FILED
IN FORM 10Q AS OF JULY 29, 2000, AND THE TWENTY-SIX WEEK PERIOD THEN ENDED, AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.


                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-03-2001
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-30-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-29-2000
<CASH>                                          59,885
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    863,126
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,061,789
<PP&E>                                         879,199
<DEPRECIATION>                                 423,129
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,189,888
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          371,511
<BONDS>                                        515,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         1,114
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,227,136
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,189,888
<SALES>                                      1,431,657
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,431,657
<CGS>                                          829,454
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  829,454
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               8,467
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 39,009
<INCOME-TAX>                                    15,408
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             23,601
<DISCONTINUED>                                (99,457)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (75,856)
<EPS-BASIC>                                      (.68)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.68)