Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($)	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 May. 03, 2014	150,000	150,000	240,000	4,033,000	50,368,000
Beginning and end of year at May. 03, 2014	$ 150,000	$ (5,100,000)	$ 240,000	$ (12,900,000)	$ 504,000	$ 42,775,000	$ 80,737,000	$ (205,000)	$ 106,201,000
Beginning of year (in shares) at Apr. 27, 2013			400,000		50,362,000
Beginning of year at Apr. 27, 2013			$ 400,000		$ 504,000	50,398,000	37,828,000	(964,000)
Series D preferred redeemed (in shares)			(160,000)
Series D preferred redeemed			$ (160,000)			(7,722)
Stock options exercised (in shares)					6,000
Stock options exercised						47,000
Stock-based compensation						95,000
Stock-based tax benefits						17,000
Other						(60,000)
Net income							43,635,000		43,635,000
Preferred stock dividends & accretion							(726,000)
Cash flow hedges								610,000	610,000
Other								149,000	149,000
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	$ 150,000	$ (5,100,000)	$ 120,000	$ (12,900,000)	$ 504,000	37,759,000	129,773,000	(2,524,000)	147,782,000
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	$ 150,000	$ (5,100,000)	$ 240,000	$ (12,900,000)	$ 504,000	42,775,000	80,737,000	(205,000)	106,201,000
Series D preferred redeemed (in shares)			(120,000)
Series D preferred redeemed			$ (120,000)			(5,791)
Stock options exercised (in shares)					50,000
Stock options exercised						228,000
Stock-based compensation						307,000
Stock-based tax benefits						240,000
Other
Net income							49,311,000		49,311,000
Preferred stock dividends & accretion							(275,000)
Cash flow hedges								(2,350,000)	(2,350,000)
Other								31,000	31,000
Beginning and end of year (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2016	150,000	150,000		4,033,000	50,589,000
Beginning and end of year at Apr. 30, 2016	$ 150,000	$ (5,100,000)		$ (12,900,000)	$ 506,000	34,570,000	190,733,000	(1,807,000)	206,152,000
Beginning of year (in shares) at May. 02, 2015	150,000	150,000	120,000	4,033,000	50,418,000
Beginning of year at May. 02, 2015	$ 150,000	$ (5,100,000)	$ 120,000	$ (12,900,000)	$ 504,000	37,759,000	129,773,000	(2,524,000)	$ 147,782,000
Series D preferred redeemed (in shares)			(120,000)
Series D preferred redeemed			$ (120,000)			(5,791)
Stock options exercised (in shares)					171,000				170,715
Stock options exercised					$ 2,000	846,000
Stock-based compensation						228,000
Stock-based tax benefits						1,528,000
Other
Net income							61,198,000		$ 61,198,000
Preferred stock dividends & accretion							$ (238,000)
Cash flow hedges								783,000	783,000
Other								$ (66,000)	$ (66,000)