Business Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Aug. 03, 2013	Jul. 28, 2012	Aug. 03, 2013 segment	Jul. 28, 2012	Feb. 02, 2013
Business Segments
Number of reportable segments			2
Net sales from external customers	$ 1,479,852,000	$ 1,487,925,000	$ 3,028,988,000	$ 3,037,244,000
Gross profit	503,030,000	500,123,000	1,114,381,000	1,092,529,000
Depreciation and amortization	64,244,000	64,215,000	129,360,000	128,235,000
Interest and debt expense (income), net	16,246,000	17,673,000	32,556,000	35,128,000
Income before income taxes and income on and equity in losses of joint ventures	55,758,000	48,205,000	235,979,000	195,323,000
Income on and equity in losses of joint ventures	408,000	147,000	817,000	982,000
Total assets	4,107,463,000	4,261,462,000	4,107,463,000	4,261,462,000	4,048,744,000
Intersegment revenues	10,600,000	9,900,000	12,400,000	17,800,000
Retail operations
Business Segments
Number of store formats			1
Net sales from external customers	1,458,778,000	1,456,025,000	2,988,778,000	2,978,000,000
Gross profit	501,417,000	498,717,000	1,111,306,000	1,089,780,000
Depreciation and amortization	64,186,000	64,164,000	129,243,000	128,139,000
Interest and debt expense (income), net	16,262,000	17,708,000	32,592,000	35,199,000
Income before income taxes and income on and equity in losses of joint ventures	55,282,000	48,028,000	235,181,000	194,996,000
Income on and equity in losses of joint ventures	408,000	147,000	817,000	982,000
Total assets	4,074,433,000	4,215,718,000	4,074,433,000	4,215,718,000
Construction
Business Segments
Net sales from external customers	21,074,000	31,900,000	40,210,000	59,244,000
Gross profit	1,613,000	1,406,000	3,075,000	2,749,000
Depreciation and amortization	58,000	51,000	117,000	96,000
Interest and debt expense (income), net	(16,000)	(35,000)	(36,000)	(71,000)
Income before income taxes and income on and equity in losses of joint ventures	476,000	177,000	798,000	327,000
Total assets	$ 33,030,000	$ 45,744,000	$ 33,030,000	$ 45,744,000