Guarantor subsidiaries (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	May 04, 2012	Feb. 03, 2012	Apr. 29, 2011	Jan. 28, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 132,530	$ 126,126	$ 602,463	$ 497,446
Merchandise inventories	2,000,864	2,009,206
Income taxes receivable	5,210
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	135,131	139,742
Total current assets	2,273,735	2,275,074
Net property and equipment	1,878,172	1,794,960
Goodwill	4,338,589	4,338,589
Other intangible assets, net	1,231,866	1,235,954
Other assets, net	47,846	43,943
Total assets	9,770,208	9,688,520
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	459	590
Accounts payable	985,924	1,064,087
Accrued expenses and other	360,349	397,075
Income taxes payable	50,355	44,428
Deferred income taxes	14,166	3,722
Total current liabilities	1,411,253	1,509,902
Long-term obligations	2,880,920	2,617,891
Deferred income taxes	649,532	656,996
Other liabilities	231,427	229,149
Redeemable common stock	5,644	6,087
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	290,782	295,828
Additional paid-in capital	2,967,014	2,960,940
Retained earnings	1,336,298	1,416,918
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,662)	(5,191)
Total shareholders' equity	4,591,432	4,668,495
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,770,208	9,688,520
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,156	1,844	128,334	111,545
Deferred income taxes	415	10,078
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	579,120	551,457
Total current assets	580,691	563,379
Net property and equipment	113,770	113,661
Goodwill	4,338,589	4,338,589
Other intangible assets, net	1,199,700	1,199,200
Other assets, net	6,904,676	6,575,574
Total assets	13,137,426	12,790,403
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	4,831,858	4,654,237
Accrued expenses and other	56,163	79,010
Income taxes payable	21,425	12,972
Total current liabilities	4,909,446	4,746,219
Long-term obligations	3,142,575	2,879,475
Deferred income taxes	435,666	435,791
Other liabilities	52,663	54,336
Redeemable common stock	5,644	6,087
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	290,782	295,828
Additional paid-in capital	2,967,014	2,960,940
Retained earnings	1,336,298	1,416,918
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,662)	(5,191)
Total shareholders' equity	4,591,432	4,668,495
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	13,137,426	12,790,403
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	108,118	102,627	445,583	364,404
Merchandise inventories	2,000,864	2,009,206
Income taxes receivable	5,210
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,881,080	4,685,263
Total current assets	6,995,272	6,797,096
Net property and equipment	1,764,235	1,681,072
Other intangible assets, net	32,166	36,754
Other assets, net	13,656	13,260
Total assets	8,805,329	8,528,182
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	459	590
Accounts payable	1,423,354	1,451,277
Accrued expenses and other	255,641	264,575
Income taxes payable		5,013
Deferred income taxes	36,429	35,529
Total current liabilities	1,715,883	1,756,984
Long-term obligations	3,431,603	3,340,075
Deferred income taxes	264,002	270,736
Other liabilities	35,310	33,156
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	23,855	23,855
Additional paid-in capital	431,253	431,253
Retained earnings	2,903,423	2,672,123
Total shareholders' equity	3,358,531	3,127,231
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	8,805,329	8,528,182
OTHER SUBSIDIARIES
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	23,256	21,655	28,546	21,497
Deferred income taxes	21,848	21,729
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	10,058	5,768
Total current assets	55,162	49,152
Net property and equipment	167	227
Deferred income taxes	50,136	49,531
Other assets, net	324,593	323,736
Total assets	430,058	422,646
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	51,904	52,362
Accrued expenses and other	62,480	62,447
Income taxes payable	28,930	26,443
Total current liabilities	143,314	141,252
Other liabilities	143,454	141,657
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	100	100
Additional paid-in capital	19,900	19,900
Retained earnings	123,290	119,737
Total shareholders' equity	143,290	139,737
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	430,058	422,646
ELIMINATIONS
Current assets:
Deferred income taxes	(22,263)	(31,807)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(5,335,127)	(5,102,746)
Total current assets	(5,357,390)	(5,134,553)
Deferred income taxes	(50,136)	(49,531)
Other assets, net	(7,195,079)	(6,868,627)
Total assets	(12,602,605)	(12,052,711)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(5,321,192)	(5,093,789)
Accrued expenses and other	(13,935)	(8,957)
Deferred income taxes	(22,263)	(31,807)
Total current liabilities	(5,357,390)	(5,134,553)
Long-term obligations	(3,693,258)	(3,601,659)
Deferred income taxes	(50,136)	(49,531)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	(23,955)	(23,955)
Additional paid-in capital	(451,153)	(451,153)
Retained earnings	(3,026,713)	(2,791,860)
Total shareholders' equity	(3,501,821)	(3,266,968)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (12,602,605)	$ (12,052,711)