Trans World Entertainment, which operates f.y.e. and (a few) Suncoast stores, continued to grow its Trends category rapidly in the third quarter, but that failed to completely offset the punishing declines in its video and music categories, leading to a loss of $7.2 million for the quarter.  The loss was 39% worse than the loss in the year ago period.

Same store sales were down 5% in the quarter, led by an 18% decline in the chain’s heritage media categories.  The Trends category, which includes CCGs, merch, and other geek culture products, was up 27%, bringing the category to nearly a third (32%) of the chain’s sales.

The store count is down from 309 a year ago to 294 this year.  The company now has 25 stores in its new merch-heavy format and is opening more in Q4 (see "Trans World Opening 18 New Stores").

TWE acquired an e-commerce company in unrelated categories during the quarter (see "TWE Acquires E-Commerce Company Etailz").