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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Fubie4jGefyXv3Wrrrnl+yPY4cs379EGA1Y1g+sn/bUFGaJZw/3Mkl0P9y2dMLY4
 y4kuip0z5vZzCqGKKA2YwA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-006336.txt : 20030825
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-006336.hdr.sgml : 20030825
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030825172943
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-006336
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030821
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030825

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000795212
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL- COMPUTER & PRERECORDED TAPE STORES [5735]
		IRS NUMBER:				141541629
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		38 CORPORATE CIRCLE
		CITY:			ALBANY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12203
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5184521242

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		38 CORPORATE CIRCLE
		CITY:			ALBANY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12203

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRANS WORLD MUSIC CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EISENBERG BRUCE J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001187199

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14818
		FILM NUMBER:		03864993

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CORP
		STREET 2:		38 CORPORATE CIRCLE
		CITY:			ALBANY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12203
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5184521242

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		38 CORPORATE CIRCLE
		CITY:			ALBANY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12203
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-08-21</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000795212</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TWMC</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001187199</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EISENBERG BRUCE J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>38, CORPORATE CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALBANY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>12203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>EVP Real Estate</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock par value $.01 per share</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-08-21</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2700</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>4.58</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12700</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock par value $.01 per share</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-08-21</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2700</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>6.48</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.58</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-08-21</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2700</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>4.58</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>1995-08-01</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2004-08-01</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock par value $.01 per share</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>2700</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>682800</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Exercise of employee stock options</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">All of the stock options listed above are issued pursuant to a stock option plan qualified under Rule 16b-3 and exempt from Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>s/ Bruce J. Eisenberg</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-08-25</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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