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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


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                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934




                             --------------------------- 

 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 16, 1998
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                              VENATOR GROUP, INC.
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



      New York                        No. 1-10299        13-3513936
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(State or other jurisdic-            (Commission        (IRS Employer
 tion of incorporation)               File Number)       Identification No.)



233 Broadway, New York, New York                           10279-0003
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(Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)




Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 553-2000
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Item 5.  Other Events.
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         (a) On September 16, 1998, the Registrant announced that it is exiting 
its  Specialty  Footwear  operations  including  467 Kinney  Shoe stores and 103
Footquarters stores. The Registrant expects to convert approximately 60 of these
locations  to its Lady Foot  Locker,  Kids Foot  Locker  and  Colorado  formats.
Additionally,  the  Registrant  will  launch  a  new  athletic  chain  utilizing
approximately  35 Footquarters  locations and 40 existing Foot Locker and Champs
Sports  outlet  stores.  The Company  expects to record an  after-tax  charge of
approximately $173 million,  or $1.28 per diluted share, in the third quarter of
1998, which will be treated as discontinued operations for accounting purposes.

         (b) On September 22, 1998, the Registrant announced that it is exiting
its International General Merchandise  business,  including its 357 store German
general  merchandise  operations  which are  being  sold for U.S.  $552  million
pursuant to a definitive agreement in a management led buy-out backed by Electra
Fleming,  based in London.  In connection with the  transaction,  the Registrant
expects to receive net proceeds  (after-tax)  of U.S. $440 million and to record
an  after-tax  gain on sale as  discontinued  operations  of  approximately  $16
million, or $0.12 per diluted share. The transaction, which is subject to normal
regulatory  approvals,  is  expected  to close by  year-end.  The net  impact of
discontinuing this segment is not expected to be material.

                                   
           
                                   SIGNATURES
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     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned being hereunto duly authorized.



                                                VENATOR GROUP, INC.
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                                                    (Registrant)



Date:  October 9, 1998                          By:/S/ Gary M. Bahler       
                                                   ----------------------- 
                                                   Gary M. Bahler
                                                   Senior Vice President,
                                                   General Counsel and
                                                   Secretary
 


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