Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 29, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation The condensed consolidated financial statements of Arden Group, Inc. (Company or Arden) include the accounts of the Company and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. The Company currently operates 16 full-service supermarkets in Southern California through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Gelson’s Markets (Gelson’s) which carries both perishable and other grocery products. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2013 and June 30, 2012 have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q, Article 10 of Regulation S-X and generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) for interim financial information. These financial statements have not been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm but include all adjustments which, in the opinion of management of the Company, are necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and the results of operations for the periods presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations. Accordingly, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s fiscal 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for the twenty-six week period ended June 29, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year ending December 28, 2013.
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue at the time of sale. Revenue is recorded net of sales tax. Discounts given to customers are recorded at the point of sale as a reduction of revenue. The Company maintains a bad debt allowance for receivables from vendors and Gelson’s charge card users. Valuation reserves are adjusted periodically based on historical recovery rates. The Company records income from licensing arrangements, subleases, leases and finance charges as they are earned. Income from all licensing arrangements, rental income and finance charges represents less than 1% of sales for all periods presented and, therefore, is not disclosed separately on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
Cost of Sales, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Cost of Sales Cost of sales includes product costs (net of discounts and allowances) and inbound freight charges, as well as warehouse, transportation, purchasing, advertising and occupancy costs. Warehouse and transportation costs include receiving costs, internal transfer costs, labor, building rent, utilities, depreciation, repairs and maintenance and fuel for the Company’s distribution center. Purchasing costs include both labor and administrative expense associated with the purchase of the Company’s products for resale. Advertising costs, net of vendor reimbursements, are expensed as incurred. Occupancy costs consist of rent, common area charges (where applicable), depreciation and utilities related to Gelson’s operations. The following table summarizes warehouse, transportation, purchasing, advertising, net of vendor reimbursements, and occupancy costs for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2013 and June 30, 2012
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Fair Value Measurements The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities which are measured on a recurring basis includes Investments which appear under Assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of June 29, 2013 and December 29, 2012, all of the Company’s investments were valued using Level 1 inputs as the investment portfolio consists of investment securities that are actively traded in the marketplace. Level 1 inputs are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt closely approximates its carrying value. The Company estimates the fair value of long-term debt based upon the net present value of the future cash flows using those interest rates that are currently available to the Company for the issuance of debt with similar terms and remaining maturities.
Cost of Sales, Vendor Allowances, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Vendor Allowances The Company receives a variety of allowances from its vendors whose products are sold in Gelson’s stores. Typically, the vendors are paying the Company to promote their products. The promotion may be a temporary price reduction, a feature in a print advertisement or newsletter, placement of the vendor’s product in a preferred location in a store or introduction of a new product. The promotions range from approximately two weeks to six months and are recognized as a reduction of cost of sales as they are earned. Occasionally, the Company receives allowances in the form of upfront lump-sum payments from vendors. Under the terms of these long-term agreements (which typically extend for several months or years), the Company earns these allowances as it purchases product from the vendor. The upfront payments are recorded as a liability when they are received and are recorded as a reduction of inventory cost as the product is purchased. In the event the Company does not purchase the minimum amount of product specified in the agreement, the upfront payments must be returned on a pro rata basis to the vendor. If the contract does not specify that the rebate is earned as product is purchased, then the upfront payments are recorded as a liability when received and recognized as a reduction of cost of sales on a pro rata basis as the product is sold.

Disclosure of accounting policy regarding (1) the principles it follows in consolidating or combining the separate financial statements, including the principles followed in determining the inclusion or exclusion of subsidiaries or other entities in the consolidated or combined financial statements and (2) its treatment of interests (for example, common stock, a partnership interest or other means of exerting influence) in other entities, for example consolidation or use of the equity or cost methods of accounting. The accounting policy may also address the accounting treatment for intercompany accounts and transactions, noncontrolling interest, and the income statement treatment in consolidation for issuances of stock by a subsidiary.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02, 03

-Article 3A

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/section&trid=2197723

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.3A-02)

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18733093&loc=d3e5614-111684

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph k

-Article 1

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for recognition of costs in the period which correspond to the sales and revenue categories presented in the statement of operations. The accounting policy may include the amount and nature of costs incurred, provisions associated with inventories, purchase discounts, freight and other costs included in cost of sales incurred and recorded in the period. This disclosure also includes the nature of costs of sales incurred and recorded in the statement of operations for the period relating to transactions with related parties.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for revenue recognition. If the entity has different policies for different types of revenue transactions, the policy for each material type of transaction is generally disclosed. If a sales transaction has multiple element arrangements (for example, delivery of multiple products, services or the rights to use assets) the disclosure may indicate the accounting policy for each unit of accounting as well as how units of accounting are determined and valued. The disclosure may encompass important judgment as to appropriateness of principles related to recognition of revenue. The disclosure also may indicate the entity's treatment of any unearned or deferred revenue that arises from the transaction.

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