Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Oct. 29, 2011	Oct. 30, 2010
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 54,729	$ 47,910
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	16,096	16,191
Provision For Doubtful Accounts	1,263	2,139
Share Based Compensation	1,948	1,792
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	(128)	(246)
Loss on disposal of property and equipment	473	472
Changes in operating assets and liabilities which provided (used) cash:
Accounts receivable	414	(747)
Merchandise inventories	16,781	1,090
Prepaid and other assets	289	249
Accrued income taxes	4,905	7,030
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(28,798)	(15,455)
Net cash provided by operating activities	67,972	60,425
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Expenditures for property and equipment	26,608	14,263
Purchase of short-term investments	105,837	140,896
Sales of short-term investments	(499)	537
Change in restricted cash and investments	(81,855)	(100,934)
Net cash used in investing activities	(51,089)	(53,688)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Dividends paid	19,008	15,758
Repurchase of common stock	10,599	5,840
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan	444	410
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation financing activities	128	246
Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised	32	606
Net cash provided used in financing activities	(29,003)	(20,336)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(12,120)	(13,599)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	48,630	50,385
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 36,510	$ 36,786

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Includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the Entity may deposit additional funds at any time and also effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months. Compensating balance arrangements that do not legally restrict the withdrawal or usage of cash amounts may be reported as Cash and Cash Equivalents, while legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or company statements of intention with regard to particular deposits should not be reported as cash and cash equivalents.