Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 01, 2012	Dec. 03, 2011	Nov. 27, 2010
Income tax benefit (expense) on continuing operations
Current federal	$ 5	$ 6	$ 327
Current state and local		(113)
Deferred federal	214	1,534	2,497
Deferred state and local	(106)	(242)	334
Total income tax (expense) benefit	113	1,185	3,158
Income Taxes, additional disclosures
Unrecognized tax benefit	1,123
Reduction in deferred tax asset related to non-qualified stock options as a result of exercises and forfeitures on those options	38
Income tax expense from discontinued operations	1,460	374	344
Deferred tax (expense) benefit included in other comprehensive income
Mark to market adjustments on Centaur Media plc	(427)	735	(146)
Fair value adjustment of cash flow hedges	287	346	263
Measurement of the funded status of the defined postretirement plan	29	21	(116)
Total income tax (expense) benefit included in other comprehensive income (loss)	(111)	1,102	1
Differences between income tax benefits at the United States statutory income tax rates and the actual income tax benefits on continuing operations
Tax benefit at statutory rate	278	1,464	2,861
State and local taxes, including valuation allowance, net of federal tax effect	(69)	(230)	217
Permanent items	(65)	(63)	(40)
Other	(31)	14	120
Total income tax (expense) benefit	113	1,185	3,158
Effect on income tax benefit for valuation allowance	44	(23)	50
Federal income tax expense (benefits)	(15)	8	(22)
Deferred tax assets:
Deferred revenue	1,514	672
Retirement benefit plans	1,222	1,054
Cash flow hedges	1,180	893
State net operating loss carryforwards	855	1,153
Non-qualified stock options	608	487
Federal net operating loss carryforwards	521	2,924
Inventories	371	766
Investment in Centaur Media plc	310	737
Investment in Shemin Nurseries Holding Corp.	301	436
Conditional asset retirement obligations	117	117
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable	50	51
Other	348	416
Total deferred tax assets	7,397	9,706
Valuation allowance	(319)	(290)
Net deferred tax assets	7,078	9,416
Deferred tax liabilities:
Real estate assets	(3,015)	(4,393)
Deferred rent	(787)	(966)
Prepaid insurance	(147)	(166)
Property and equipment	(105)	(118)
Other	(277)	(114)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(4,331)	(5,757)
Net total deferred tax assets	2,747	3,659
Deferred income taxes current
Asset	722	824
Liability	(197)	(210)
Total	525	614
Deferred income taxes Noncurrent
Asset	6,356	8,592
Liability	(4,134)	(5,547)
Total	2,222	3,045
Deferred income taxes
Asset	7,078	9,416
Liability	(4,331)	(5,757)
Net total deferred tax assets	2,747	3,659
Pre-Tax Increase (Decrease) Other Comprehensive Loss
Mark to market adjustment on Centaur Media for the increase (decrease) in fair value	1,111	(2,098)	783
Mark to market adjustment on Centaur Media for the increase (decrease) in exchange gain	110	1	(296)
Decrease in fair value adjustment on Griffin's cash flow hedges	(776)	(934)	(711)
Actuarial (loss) gain on postretirement benefits program	(77)	(56)	304
Other comprehensive income (loss)	368	(3,087)	80
Tax (Expense) Benefit, Other Comprehensive Loss
Mark to market adjustment on Centaur Media for the increase (decrease) in fair value	(389)	735	(235)
Mark to market adjustment on Centaur Media for the increase (decrease) in exchange gain	(38)		89
Decrease in fair value adjustment on Griffin's cash flow hedges	287	346	263
Actuarial (loss) gain on postretirement benefits program	29	21	(116)
Total income tax (expense) benefit included in other comprehensive income (loss)	(111)	1,102	1
Net-of-Tax Increase (Decrease) Other Comprehensive Loss
Mark to market adjustment on Centaur Media for the increase (decrease) in fair value	722	(1,363)	548
Mark to market adjustment on Centaur Media for the increase (decrease) in exchange gain	72	1	(207)
Decrease in fair value adjustment on Griffin's cash flow hedges	(489)	(588)	(448)
Actuarial (loss) gain on postretirement benefits program	(48)	(35)	188
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	$ 257	$ (1,985)	$ 81