VENATOR GROUP, INC. 
  
  
  
                                        September 14, 1998 
  
 VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION 
 Securities and Exchange Commission 
 450 Fifth Street, N.W. 
 Washington, D.C.  20549 
  
                Re:  Venator Group, Inc. (formerly known as Woolworth
                     Corporation) Registration Statement on Form S-4  
                     (Reg. No. 333-56439) 
  
 Ladies and Gentlemen: 
  
           Pursuant to Rules 477 and 478 under the Securities Act of 1933,
 on behalf of Venator Group, Inc. (formerly known as Woolworth
 Corporation), a New York corporation ("Venator"), application is made to
 withdraw the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Reg. No. 333-56439) that
 was filed by Venator with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June
 9, 1998 in connection with a proposed Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated
 as of May 7, 1998 (the "Merger Agreement"), among Venator, Liberty Merger
 Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Venator,
 and The Sports Authority, Inc., a Delaware corporation. The termination of
 the Merger Agreement by mutual agreement of the parties on September 11,
 1998, are the grounds for such withdrawal.
  
           If you have any questions or comments concerning this filing,
 please contact the undersigned at (212) 553-2000. 
  
                          Very truly yours, 
  
                          /s/ Gary M. Bahler   
                          ________________________   
                          Name:  Gary M. Bahler 
                          Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel 
                                 and Secretary 
  
  
 cc:  Frank W. Bubb, III, Esq. 
      John S. Fletcher, Esq. 
      Chris Owings 
      The New York Stock Exchange, Inc.