Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2012	Dec. 28, 2010	Dec. 29, 2009
Cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net loss	$ (8,298)	$ (16,656)	$ (23,945)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	12,463	14,610	18,271
Impairment of long-lived assets	1,291	2,778	12,639
Lease termination, store closure costs and disposals	1,501	(324)	(1,374)
Jambacard breakage income and amortization, net	(3,685)	(5,252)	(2,777)
Share-based compensation	1,256	1,146	1,274
Bad debt and purchase obligation reserves	164	528	(178)
Deferred rent	(457)	(869)	793
Deferred income taxes	40	958	(644)
Write-off of loan fees and loan discount			2,865
Equity (income) loss from joint ventures	(51)	(61)	(7)
Gain on derivative liabilities			(1,597)
Amortization of loan premium			887
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables	(6,717)	3,333	(5,441)
Inventories	148	957	(150)
Prepaid and refundable taxes	(35)	(48)	5,179
Prepaid rent	(2,253)	(22)	(301)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	95	(482)	206
Other long-term assets	1,937	838	106
Restricted cash from operating activities	473	898	1,995
Accounts payable	(2,494)	1,152	(2,080)
Accrued compensation and benefits	1,005	(928)	(582)
Workers' compensation and health insurance reserves	(214)	(948)	(2,327)
Accrued jambacard liability	7,185	(3,247)	10,268
Other current liabilities	(2,793)	2,332	(2,326)
Other long-term liabilities	(1,643)	(1,646)	(2,290)
Cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(1,080)	(953)	8,464
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(10,744)	(10,165)	(10,839)
Proceeds from the sale of stores	3,734	13,763	4,712
Decrease in restricted cash			3,000
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(7,010)	3,598	(3,127)
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of redeemable preferred stock			34,115
Payments on debt facility			(25,000)
Payments on exercise of put agreement			(3,000)
Payments of costs for issuance of redeemable preferred stock			(1,908)
Redeemable preferred stock dividends paid	(1,621)	(2,302)	(1,360)
Payment on capital lease obligations	(20)	(225)	(282)
Proceeds pursuant to stock plans	314	149	33
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,327)	(2,378)	2,598
Net (decrease) increase in cash and equivalents	(9,417)	267	7,935
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	29,024	28,757	20,822
Cash and equivalents at end of period	19,607	29,024	28,757
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	237	293	3,309
Income taxes paid	36	18	51
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Noncash property, fixtures and equipment additions	202	1,705	1,396
Accretion of redeemable preferred stock	672	1,775	328
Beneficial conversion feature of redeemable preferred stock			885
Warrants issued in connection with issuance of redeemable preferred stock			231
Redeemable preferred stock dividends	38	50	172
Conversion of redeemable preferred stock	$ 3,346	$ 12,290