Document And Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Aug. 03, 2019	Sep. 13, 2019
Document Information Line Items
Entity Registrant Name	TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CORP
Document Type	10-Q
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,816,061
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000795212
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Period End Date	Aug. 03, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Ex Transition Period	false
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes