CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 03, 2012	Jul. 29, 2011	Jul. 30, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 103,081	$ 85,208	$ 85,258
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	64,467	62,788	61,024
Loss (gain) on disposition of property and equipment	2,702	(1,418)	4,697
Impairment	0	3,219	2,672
Share-based compensation	14,420	9,796	13,193
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation	(4,502)	(4,108)	(5,063)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(2,330)	1,251	(800)
Income taxes receivable	7,898	(7,898)	4,078
Inventories	(1,720)	2,532	(6,655)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(2,405)	(391)	584
Other assets	(4,725)	(803)	(5,642)
Accounts payable	1,592	(16,539)	24,050
Taxes withheld and accrued	7,369	(652)	906
Income taxes payable	10,327	(3,516)	12,687
Accrued employee compensation	17,729	(10,680)	9,880
Accrued employee benefits	(2,701)	(1,690)	(1,696)
Deferred revenues	5,066	5,086	5,016
Other current liabilities	(7,676)	(4,347)	(457)
Other long-term obligations	9,973	12,576	5,002
Deferred income taxes	1,257	7,798	3,372
Net cash provided by operating activities	219,822	138,212	212,106
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(80,922)	(77,962)	(70,132)
Proceeds from insurance recoveries of property and equipment	752	276	241
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	623	8,197	265
Net cash used in investing activities	(79,547)	(69,489)	(69,626)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	92,600	687,000	349,600
Proceeds from exercise of share-based compensation awards	17,602	20,540	37,460
Principal payments under long-term debt and other long-term obligations	(117,733)	(717,263)	(414,572)
Purchases and retirement of common stock	(14,923)	(33,563)	(62,487)
Deferred financing costs	(263)	(5,125)	(2,908)
Dividends on common stock	(22,372)	(19,846)	(18,545)
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation	4,502	4,108	5,063
Net cash used in financing activities	(40,587)	(64,149)	(106,389)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	99,688	4,574	36,091
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	52,274	47,700	11,609
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	151,962	52,274	47,700
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	50,357	46,301	45,320
Income taxes	18,768	32,248	20,673
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activity:
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps	17,223	14,677	(5,049)
Change in deferred tax asset for interest rate swaps	$ (349)	$ (3,860)	$ 1,022