Nature of Operations	6 Months Ended
Aug. 01, 2015
Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]
Nature of Operations [Text Block]	Note 1. Nature of Operations Trans World Entertainment Corporation and subsidiaries (“the Company”) is one of the largest specialty retailers of entertainment products, including video, music, electronics, trend, video games and related products in the United States. The Company operates a chain of retail entertainment stores, primarily under the names f.y.e. for your entertainment and Suncoast Motion Pictures, and e-commerce sites, www.fye.com, www.wherehouse.com, and www.secondspin.com in a single industry segment. As of August 1, 2015, the Company operated 308 stores totaling approximately 1.8 million square feet in the United States, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. *Liquidity and Cash Flows:* The Company’s primary sources of working capital are cash and cash equivalents on hand, cash provided by operations and borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility (See Note 6 for further details). The Company’s cash flows fluctuate from quarter to quarter due to various items, including seasonality of sales and earnings, merchandise inventory purchases and returns and the related terms on the purchases and capital expenditures. Management believes it will have adequate resources to fund its cash needs for the next twelve months and beyond, including its capital spending, seasonal increase in merchandise inventory and other operating cash requirements and commitments. Management anticipates that any future cash requirements due to a shortfall in cash from operations would be funded by the Company’s cash and cash equivalents on hand and its revolving credit facility. *Seasonality:* The Company’s business is seasonal, with the fourth fiscal quarter constituting the Company’s peak selling period. In fiscal 2014, the fourth quarter accounted for approximately 35% of annual net sales and all of net income. In anticipation of increased sales activity in the fourth quarter, the Company purchases additional inventory and hires seasonal associates to supplement its core store sales and distribution center staffs. If, for any reason, the Company’s sales were below seasonal norms during the fourth quarter, the Company’s operating results could be adversely affected. Quarterly sales can also be affected by the timing of new product releases, new store openings, store closings and the performance of existing stores.

Nature of Operations

6 Months Ended

Aug. 01, 2015

Note 1. Nature of Operations

Trans World Entertainment Corporation and subsidiaries (“the Company”) is one of the largest specialty retailers of entertainment products, including video, music, electronics, trend, video games and related products in the United States. The Company operates a chain of retail entertainment stores, primarily under the names f.y.e. for your entertainment and Suncoast Motion Pictures, and e-commerce sites, www.fye.com, www.wherehouse.com, and www.secondspin.com in a single industry segment. As of August 1, 2015, the Company operated 308 stores totaling approximately 1.8 million square feet in the United States, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Liquidity and Cash Flows:

The Company’s primary sources of working capital are cash and cash equivalents on hand, cash provided by operations and borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility (See Note 6 for further details). The Company’s cash flows fluctuate from quarter to quarter due to various items, including seasonality of sales and earnings, merchandise inventory purchases and returns and the related terms on the purchases and capital expenditures. Management believes it will have adequate resources to fund its cash needs for the next twelve months and beyond, including its capital spending, seasonal increase in merchandise inventory and other operating cash requirements and commitments.

Management anticipates that any future cash requirements due to a shortfall in cash from operations would be funded by the Company’s cash and cash equivalents on hand and its revolving credit facility.

Seasonality:

The Company’s business is seasonal, with the fourth fiscal quarter constituting the Company’s peak selling period. In fiscal 2014, the fourth quarter accounted for approximately 35% of annual net sales and all of net income. In anticipation of increased sales activity in the fourth quarter, the Company purchases additional inventory and hires seasonal associates to supplement its core store sales and distribution center staffs. If, for any reason, the Company’s sales were below seasonal norms during the fourth quarter, the Company’s operating results could be adversely affected. Quarterly sales can also be affected by the timing of new product releases, new store openings, store closings and the performance of existing stores.