CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 123,759	$ 121,874
Short-term restricted cash	2,356	5,984
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2 and $0 as of May 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013, respectively	4,507	3,130
Merchandise inventories	230,693	217,413
Deferred tax assets - current	6,075	6,290
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current (includes $378 and $0 as of May 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013 respectively, for the fair value of derivative instruments)	23,756	20,890
Total current assets	391,146	375,581
Long-term restricted cash	26,923	34,775
Property and equipment, net	396,749	338,478
Goodwill	36,176	36,364
Deferred tax assets - long term	12,862	12,871
Other non-current assets (includes $729 and $1,505 as of May 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013, respectively, for the fair value of derivative instruments.)	25,734	19,866
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	8,861	8,104
Total Assets	898,451	826,039
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	197,671	199,425
Accrued salaries and benefits	18,041	17,862
Deferred membership income	17,770	16,528
Income taxes payable	6,867	8,059
Other accrued expenses	18,696	20,136
Dividends payable	10,593	0
Long-term debt, current portion	15,742	12,757
Deferred tax liability - current	189	111
Total current liabilities	285,569	274,878
Deferred tax liability - long-term	2,716	2,622
Long-term portion of deferred rent	5,116	4,440
Long-term income taxes payable, net of current portion	2,001	2,184
Long-term debt, net of current portion	78,353	60,263
Other long-term liabilities (includes $104 and $14 for the fair value of derivative instruments and $664 and $589 for the defined benefit plan as of May 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013, respectively)	768	603
Total liabilities	374,523	344,990
Equity:
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 45,000,000 shares authorized; 30,948,290 and 30,924,392 shares issued and 30,209,596 and 30,234,506 shares outstanding (net of treasury shares) as of May 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013, respectively	3	3
Preferred stock $.0001 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding as of May 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013	0	0
Additional paid-in capital	395,569	390,581
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	9,489	8,016
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(50,323)	(41,475)
Retained earnings	193,738	143,871
Less: treasury stock at cost; 738,694 and 689,886 shares as of May 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013, respectively	(24,548)	(19,947)
Total equity	523,928	481,049
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 898,451	$ 826,039
Statement [Line Items]
Document Period End Date	May 31, 2014