Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2016	Apr. 24, 2015	Apr. 25, 2014
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 24,222	$ 16,553	$ 33,685
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	2,717
Income from continuing operations	24,222	16,553	30,968
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	79,607	80,074	79,456
Impairments	8,384	8,861	16,850
Loss on disposal of fixed assets	4,532	2,204	372
Loss (Gain) on rabbi trust assets	1,640	(742)	(2,249)
(Gain) Loss on deferred compensation	(765)	2,013	2,920
Share-based compensation	6,127	2,967	7,105
Accretion of non-current note receivable	(2,082)	(1,859)	(1,918)
Deferred income taxes	(28,384)	(14,791)	(6,355)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,188	1,099	364
Cash provided by (used for) assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(2,793)	4,588	515
Inventories	(377)	623	(2,752)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	483	(563)	951
Accounts payable	7,499	955	6,005
Federal and state income taxes	33,067	1,504	33,701
Accrued wages and related liabilities	(3,101)	11,005	(8,645)
Self-insurance	1,269	(974)	(1,198)
Accrued non-income taxes	745	(2,892)	1,497
Deferred revenue	433	747	52
Other assets and liabilities	(9,058)	(8,267)	7,702
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities	123,636	103,105	165,341
Investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(65,694)	(74,517)	(190,995)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	257,246	10,036	8,026
Proceeds from liquidation of rabbi trust assets	5,245	0	0
Deposits and other	(537)	(135)	4,902
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing investing activities	196,260	(64,616)	(178,067)
Financing activities:
Cash dividends paid	(27,861)	(29,056)	(31,694)
Gross proceeds from credit facility borrowings and other long-term debt	672,349	579,895	1,042,595
Gross repayments of credit facility borrowings and other long-term debt	(783,339)	(588,541)	(785,130)
Payments of debt issuance costs	(3,555)	(1,279)	(2,064)
Purchase of treasury stock	(171,513)	0	(224,994)
Proceeds from share-based compensation	214	534	13,432
Cash paid for taxes on share-based compensation	(1,314)	(1,738)	(4,858)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	1,661	228	1,756
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(313,358)	(39,957)	9,043
Net cash provided by (used in) operations	6,538	(1,468)	(3,683)
Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	0	0	2,499
Net cash provided by discontinued operations	0	0	2,499
Cash and equivalents at the beginning of the period	6,358	7,826	9,010
Cash and equivalents at the end of the period	$ 12,896	$ 6,358	$ 7,826