<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-03-30</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001808347</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Simpson Tom</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>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>57000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Wife</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23879</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By WIN Partners</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9737</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Kickstart I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrant to purchase Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.01</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2020-03-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-03-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 Per Share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>14041</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Kick Start III, LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrant to purchase Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.01</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2020-03-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-03-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9360</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Kick start IV, LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares held by WIN Partners, a fund in which Mr. Simpson holds an interest, manages and has voting control.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares held by Kickstart I, a fund in which Mr. Simpson holds an interest, manages and has voting control.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reported transaction involved the acquisition by Kick Start III, LLC of a warrant to purchase a total of 14,041 share of Trans World Entertainment common stock at a price equal to $0.01 per share (the &quot;Warrant&quot;).  Mr. Simpson holds an interest, manages and has voting control of Kick Start III, LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The reported transaction involved the acquisition by Kick Start IV, LLC of a warrant to purchase a total of 9,361 share of Trans World Entertainment common stock at a price equal to $0.01 per share (the &quot;Warrant&quot;). Mr. Simpson holds an interest, manages and has voting control of Kick Start IV, LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Kickstart III, LLC and Kickstart IV, LLC acquired the Warrant in connection with a secured loan made on March 30, 2020 to etailz, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Trans World Entertainment.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tom Simpson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-04-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
