Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($)	Preferred Stock [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member] Series D Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member] Common Treasury Stock [Member]	Total
Other						$ 31			$ 31,000
Net income					$ 49,311,000				49,311,000
Common stock cash dividend
Preferred stock dividends & accretion					(275,000)
Series D preferred redeemed (in shares)		(120,000)
Series D preferred redeemed		$ (120,000)		$ (5,791,000)
Stock options exercised (in shares)			50,000
Stock options exercised				228,000
Stock-based compensation				307,000
Stock-based tax benefits				240,000
Beginning and end of year at May. 02, 2015	$ 150,000	$ 120,000	$ 504,000	37,759,000	129,773,000	(2,524,000)	$ (5,100,000)	$ (12,900,000)	147,782,000
Beginning of year (in shares) at May. 03, 2014		240,000	50,368,000
Beginning of year at May. 03, 2014		$ 240,000	$ 504,000	42,775,000	80,737,000	(205,000)
Cash flow hedges						(2,350,000)			(2,350,000)
Beginning and end of year (in shares) at May. 02, 2015	150,000	120,000	50,418,000				150,000	4,033,000
Other						(66)			(66,000)
Net income					61,198,000				61,198,000
Common stock cash dividend
Preferred stock dividends & accretion					(238,000)
Series D preferred redeemed (in shares)		(120,000)
Series D preferred redeemed		$ (120,000)		(5,791,000)
Stock options exercised (in shares)			171,000
Stock options exercised			$ 2,000	846,000
Stock-based compensation				228,000
Stock-based tax benefits				1,528,000
Beginning and end of year at Apr. 30, 2016	$ 150,000		506,000	34,570,000	190,733,000	(1,807,000)	$ (5,100,000)	$ (12,900,000)	206,152,000
Beginning of year at May. 02, 2015	$ 150,000	$ 120,000	$ 504,000	37,759,000	129,773,000	(2,524,000)	$ (5,100,000)	$ (12,900,000)	147,782,000
Cash flow hedges						783,000			783,000
Beginning and end of year (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2016	150,000		50,589,000				150,000	4,033,000
Other						93,000			93,000
Net income					107,045,000				$ 107,045,000
Common stock cash dividend					(69,850,000)
Preferred stock dividends & accretion
Series D preferred redeemed (in shares)
Series D preferred redeemed
Stock options exercised (in shares)			27,000						27,400
Stock options exercised				365,000
Stock-based compensation				208,000
Stock-based tax benefits				495,000
Beginning and end of year at Apr. 29, 2017	$ 150,000		506,000	35,638,000	227,928,000	(604,000)	$ (5,100,000)	$ (12,900,000)	$ 245,618,000
Beginning of year at Apr. 30, 2016	$ 150,000		$ 506,000	$ 34,570,000	$ 190,733,000	(1,807,000)	$ (5,100,000)	$ (12,900,000)	206,152,000
Cash flow hedges						$ 1,110,000			$ 1,110,000
Beginning and end of year (in shares) at Apr. 29, 2017	150,000		50,616,000				150,000	4,033,000