-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UqGx37GoTk8qfZajQDQSzhuuDbRlk3lDZ941P4gpe1lcWtz+mKg2TzJXMKvVywLy
 0Tp2uYFq5pqTAb5VmoVmQw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-012061.txt : 20050611
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-012061.hdr.sgml : 20050611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050610155016
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-012061
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050608
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050610
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050610

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Schafer Lori J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001329854

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14818
		FILM NUMBER:		05889935

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		518 452 1242

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

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-06-08</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000795212</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TWMC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001329854</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Schafer Lori 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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.28</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-06-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-06-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $.01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3750</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.28</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-06-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-06-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $.01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3750</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.28</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-06-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-06-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $.01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3750</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.28</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-06-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-06-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $.01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3750</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">All of the equity transactions listed above are pursuant to equity plans qualified under Rule 16b-3 and exempt from Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lori J. Schafer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-06-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----