SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                        WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                             
                               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):  FEBRUARY 20, 1996

                           HECHINGER COMPANY
        (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

       Delaware                  0-7214                  52-1001530  
     (State or other          (Commission              (I.R.S. Employer
     jurisdiction of          File Number)             Identification
     incorporation)                                    Number)

                     3500 Pennsy Drive
                      Landover, MD                       20785
       (Address of principal executive offices)       (Zip Code)

                                (301) 341-1000
            (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


     ITEM 5.   OTHER EVENTS.

               On February 20, 1996, Hechinger Stores Company ("Stores"), a
     subsidiary of Hechinger Company, and Hechinger Stores East Coast
     Company, a subsidiary of Stores, as Borrowers, entered into a $200
     million Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of February 20, 1996 (the
     "Credit Agreement") with the financial institutions from time to time
     party thereto, as Lenders, and The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc., as
     Agent.  The Credit Agreement is attached as Exhibit 99 hereto and is
     incorporated herein by reference.

     ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND 
               EXHIBITS.

     (C)  Exhibits.

     Exhibit No.

          99   $200 million Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of 
               February 20, 1996 among Hechinger Stores Company and 
               Hechinger Stores East Coast Company, as Borrowers, the 
               financial institutions from time to time party thereto, as
               Lenders, and The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc., as Agent.


                                   SIGNATURES

               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 hereunto duly authorized.

                                   Hechinger Company

                                   By:  /s/ W. Clark McClelland        
                                        W. Clark McClelland
                                        Executive Vice President and
                                          Chief Financial Officer

     Date: February 28, 1996


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

          Exhibit                                             Sequential
             No.                        Description             Page No. 

            99           $200 million Revolving Credit Agreement 
                         dated as of February 20, 1996 among Hechinger 
                         Stores Company and Hechinger Stores East 
                         Coast Company, as Borrowers, the financial 
                         institutions from time to time party thereto,
                         as Lenders, and The CIT Group/Business 
                         Credit, Inc., as Agent.
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "HECHINGER CO", "cik": "0000046517", "assigned-sic": "5211", "irs-number": "521001530", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0130"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-07214", "film-number": "96527356"}, "business-address": {"street1": "3500 PENNSY DRIVE", "city": "LANDOVER", "state": "MD", "zip": "20785", "phone": "3013411000"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                        WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                             
                               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):  FEBRUARY 20, 1996

                           HECHINGER COMPANY
        (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

       Delaware                  0-7214                  52-1001530  
     (State or other          (Commission              (I.R.S. Employer
     jurisdiction of          File Number)             Identification
     incorporation)                                    Number)

                     3500 Pennsy Drive
                      Landover, MD                       20785
       (Address of principal executive offices)       (Zip Code)

                                (301) 341-1000
            (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

     ITEM 5.   OTHER EVENTS.

               On February 20, 1996, Hechinger Stores Company ("Stores"), a
     subsidiary of Hechinger Company, and Hechinger Stores East Coast
     Company, a subsidiary of Stores, as Borrowers, entered into a $200
     million Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of February 20, 1996 (the
     "Credit Agreement") with the financial institutions from time to time
     party thereto, as Lenders, and The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc., as
     Agent.  The Credit Agreement is attached as Exhibit 99 hereto and is
     incorporated herein by reference.

     ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND 
               EXHIBITS.

     (C)  Exhibits.

     Exhibit No.

          99   $200 million Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of 
               February 20, 1996 among Hechinger Stores Company and 
               Hechinger Stores East Coast Company, as Borrowers, the 
               financial institutions from time to time party thereto, as
               Lenders, and The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc., as Agent.

                                   SIGNATURES

               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 hereunto duly authorized.

                                   Hechinger Company

                                   By:  /s/ W. Clark McClelland        
                                        W. Clark McClelland
                                        Executive Vice President and
                                          Chief Financial Officer

     Date: February 28, 1996

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

          Exhibit                                             Sequential
             No.                        Description             Page No. 

            99           $200 million Revolving Credit Agreement 
                         dated as of February 20, 1996 among Hechinger 
                         Stores Company and Hechinger Stores East 
                         Coast Company, as Borrowers, the financial 
                         institutions from time to time party thereto,
                         as Lenders, and The CIT Group/Business 
                         Credit, Inc., as Agent.