Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 03, 2012	Jul. 29, 2011
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents	$ 104,531	$ 29,548
Deferred compensation plan assets	29,443	29,665
Total assets at fair value	133,974	59,213
Interest rate swap liability (see Note 6)	34,381	51,604
Total liabilities at fair value	34,381	51,604
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents	104,531	29,548
Deferred compensation plan assets	29,443	29,665
Total assets at fair value	133,974	59,213
Interest rate swap liability (see Note 6)	0	0
Total liabilities at fair value	0	0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents	0	0
Deferred compensation plan assets	0	0
Total assets at fair value	0	0
Interest rate swap liability (see Note 6)	34,381	51,604
Total liabilities at fair value	34,381	51,604
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents	0	0
Deferred compensation plan assets	0	0
Total assets at fair value	0	0
Interest rate swap liability (see Note 6)	0	0
Total liabilities at fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Office space fair value		1,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Number of leased stores determined to be impaired		1
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Carrying value of impaired leased store		$ 0