Note 5 - Property, Equipment, Assets Held for Sale, Operating Leases, and Sale-leaseback Transactions - Property and Equipment, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Feb. 28, 2017	May 31, 2016
Property, plant and equipment		$ 1,115,381	$ 1,224,475
Less accumulated depreciation		513,833	553,225
Property and equipment, net		601,548	671,250
Land [Member]
Property, plant and equipment		182,785	209,930
Building [Member]
Property, plant and equipment		372,430	398,984
Building Improvements [Member]
Property, plant and equipment		257,147	303,032
Restaurant Equipment [Member]
Property, plant and equipment		206,107	222,646
Other Equipment [Member]
Property, plant and equipment		74,712	82,204
Other Capitalized Property Plant and Equipment [Member]
Property, plant and equipment	[1]	17,894	4,354
Construction in Progress and Other [Member]
Property, plant and equipment		$ 4,306	$ 3,325

[1] Surplus properties represent assets held for sale that are not classified as such in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as we have yet to conclude that we can sell these assets within the next 12 months. These assets primarily consist of parcels of land upon which we have no intention to build restaurants, closed properties which include a building, and liquor licenses not needed for operations.