Note 8 - Subsequent Events	6 Months Ended
Jun. 29, 2013
Subsequent Events [Text Block]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	8. Subsequent Events On July 19, 2013, the Company paid a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share on Class A totaling approximately $768,000 to stockholders of record on June 28, 2013. On July 15, 2013, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had initiated a process to explore and evaluate strategic alternatives, which may include a possible sale of the Company. The Company has retained Moelis & Company as its exclusive financial advisor to assist the Company in connection with the strategic review process. The Company has not made a decision to pursue any specific strategic transaction or any other strategic alternative, and there is no defined timeline for this strategic review. There can be no assurance that the review of strategic alternatives will result in the consummation of any transaction. The Company does not intend to comment further regarding the evaluation of strategic alternatives until such time as the Company’s Board of Directors has determined that further disclosure is appropriate or required. In connection with the decision to explore strategic alternatives, the Board of Directors adopted the Arden Group, Inc. Change in Control Protection Plan (CIC Plan) to ensure a smooth transition in the event a qualifying change in control is consummated (Change in Control). Under the CIC Plan, certain employees of Arden and Gelson’s are eligible to receive various retention and/or severance benefits upon or after a Change in Control. Employees eligible to participate in the CIC Plan must enter into a letter agreement with the Company that sets forth the terms, conditions and amount of the participant’s CIC Plan benefits. Subject to the terms and conditions of the CIC Plan, upon a Change in Control, a participant under the CIC Plan who remains employed through the date of the Change in Control or who is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason prior thereto would be eligible to receive retention payments and, for one year thereafter if terminated without cause, would receive specified severance benefits. The Company’s obligation to provide each of the retention and/or severance benefits under the CIC Plan is conditioned upon the participant providing a general release of claims and complying with certain nondisclosure covenants.

Note 8 - Subsequent Events

6 Months Ended

Jun. 29, 2013

8. Subsequent Events

On July 19, 2013, the Company paid a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share on Class A totaling approximately $768,000 to stockholders of record on June 28, 2013.

On July 15, 2013, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had initiated a process to explore and evaluate strategic alternatives, which may include a possible sale of the Company. The Company has retained Moelis & Company as its exclusive financial advisor to assist the Company in connection with the strategic review process. The Company has not made a decision to pursue any specific strategic transaction or any other strategic alternative, and there is no defined timeline for this strategic review. There can be no assurance that the review of strategic alternatives will result in the consummation of any transaction. The Company does not intend to comment further regarding the evaluation of strategic alternatives until such time as the Company’s Board of Directors has determined that further disclosure is appropriate or required.

In connection with the decision to explore strategic alternatives, the Board of Directors adopted the Arden Group, Inc. Change in Control Protection Plan (CIC Plan) to ensure a smooth transition in the event a qualifying change in control is consummated (Change in Control). Under the CIC Plan, certain employees of Arden and Gelson’s are eligible to receive various retention and/or severance benefits upon or after a Change in Control. Employees eligible to participate in the CIC Plan must enter into a letter agreement with the Company that sets forth the terms, conditions and amount of the participant’s CIC Plan benefits. Subject to the terms and conditions of the CIC Plan, upon a Change in Control, a participant under the CIC Plan who remains employed through the date of the Change in Control or who is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason prior thereto would be eligible to receive retention payments and, for one year thereafter if terminated without cause, would receive specified severance benefits. The Company’s obligation to provide each of the retention and/or severance benefits under the CIC Plan is conditioned upon the participant providing a general release of claims and complying with certain nondisclosure covenants.