Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CORP
Document Type	10-K
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-28
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		36,115,388
Entity Public Float	$ 0
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000795212
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Period End Date	Jan. 28, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY