Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Series C Preferred Stock [Member] Preferred Stock [Member]	Series C Preferred Stock [Member] Treasury Stock [Member]	Series D Preferred Stock [Member] Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Treasury Stock [Member] Treasury Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Total
Beginning and end of year (in shares) at Apr. 27, 2013	150,000	150,000	400,000	4,033,000	50,362,000
Beginning and end of year at Apr. 27, 2013	$ 150	$ (5,100)	$ 400	$ (12,900)	$ 504	$ 50,398	$ 37,828	$ (964)	$ 70,316
Beginning of year (in shares) at Apr. 27, 2012					50,322,000
Beginning of year at Apr. 27, 2012					$ 503	30,425	109,200	(642)
Series D preferred (redeemed) issued (in shares)			400,000
Series D preferred (redeemed) issued			$ 400			19,304
Stock options exercised (in shares)					40,000
Stock options exercised					$ 1	238
Stock-based compensation						230
Other						201
Net income							46,920
Common stock dividends							(118,139)
Preferred stock dividends & accretion							(153)
Cash flow hedges								(295)
Other								(27)
Beginning and end of year (in shares) at May. 03, 2014	150,000	150,000	240,000	4,033,000	50,368,000
Beginning and end of year at May. 03, 2014	$ 150	$ (5,100)	$ 240	$ (12,900)	$ 504	42,775	80,737	(205)	106,201
Beginning of year (in shares) at Apr. 27, 2013	150,000	150,000	400,000	4,033,000	50,362,000
Beginning of year at Apr. 27, 2013	$ 150	$ (5,100)	$ 400	$ (12,900)	$ 504	50,398	37,828	(964)	70,316
Series D preferred (redeemed) issued (in shares)			(160,000)
Series D preferred (redeemed) issued			$ (160)			(7,722)
Stock options exercised (in shares)					6,000
Stock options exercised						47
Stock-based compensation						95
Other						(43)
Net income							$ 43,635		43,635
Common stock dividends
Preferred stock dividends & accretion							$ (726)
Cash flow hedges								610	610
Other								149	149
Beginning and end of year (in shares) at May. 02, 2015	150,000	150,000	120,000	4,033,000	50,418,000
Beginning and end of year at May. 02, 2015	$ 150	$ (5,100)	$ 120	$ (12,900)	$ 504	37,759	129,773	(2,524)	147,782
Beginning of year (in shares) at May. 03, 2014	150,000	150,000	240,000	4,033,000	50,368,000
Beginning of year at May. 03, 2014	$ 150	$ (5,100)	$ 240	$ (12,900)	$ 504	42,775	80,737	(205)	$ 106,201
Series D preferred (redeemed) issued (in shares)			(120,000)
Series D preferred (redeemed) issued			$ (120)			(5,791)
Stock options exercised (in shares)					50,000				50,220
Stock options exercised						228
Stock-based compensation						307
Other						$ 240
Net income							$ 49,311		$ 49,311
Common stock dividends
Preferred stock dividends & accretion							$ (275)
Cash flow hedges								(2,350)	(2,350)
Other								$ 31	$ 31