Business Segment Information Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 24, 2013	Jun. 25, 2013	Mar. 26, 2013	Dec. 25, 2012	Sep. 25, 2012	Jun. 26, 2012	Mar. 27, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 25, 2012	Dec. 27, 2011	Dec. 29, 2009
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Revenue, Net	$ 661,732	$ 572,480	$ 589,011	$ 561,779	$ 571,549	$ 529,338	$ 530,591	$ 498,579	$ 2,385,002	$ 2,130,057	$ 1,822,032
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									106,523	90,939	79,899
General and Administrative Expense									123,335	117,932	113,083
Pre-opening expenses									7,794	8,462	6,585
Interest Expense									1,053	1,082	822
Other (income) expense, net									(4,017)	(1,208)	(466)
Income before income taxes									312,720	282,996	219,903
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									192,010	152,328	107,932
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	32,965				43,843				32,965	43,843
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	669,409				571,754				669,409	571,754
Deposits and other	5,956				7,591				5,956	7,591
Assets	1,180,862				1,268,163				1,180,862	1,268,163
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	125,245				297,141				125,245	297,141	222,640	229,299
Company Bakery Cafe Operations [Member]
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Revenue, Net									2,108,908	1,879,280	1,592,951
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Gross Profit									413,474	380,432	307,012
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									90,872	78,198	68,651
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									153,584	122,868	94,873
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Assets	867,093				807,681				867,093	807,681
Franchise Operations [Member]
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Revenue, Net									112,641	102,076	92,793
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Gross Profit									106,395	95,420	86,148
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Assets	10,156				10,285				10,156	10,285
Fresh dough and other product operations [Member]
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Revenue, Net									347,922	312,308	275,096
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Gross Profit									21,293	17,695	20,021
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									8,239	6,793	6,777
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									11,461	13,434	6,483
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Assets	62,854				60,069				62,854	60,069
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Gross Profit									541,162	493,547	413,181
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									106,523	90,939	79,899
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Assets	940,103				878,035				940,103	878,035
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Revenue, Net [Abstract]
Revenue, Net									(184,469)	(163,607)	(138,808)
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									7,412	5,948	4,471
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									26,965	16,026	6,576
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
General and Administrative Expense									117,089	111,276	106,438
Other (income) expense, net									(4,017)	(1,208)	(466)
Segment Reporting Segment Assets [Abstract]
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	2,281				1,592				2,281	1,592
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	53,587				30,161				53,587	30,161
Deposits and other	3,865				5,054				3,865	5,054
Other Assets	55,781				55,994				55,781	55,994
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	$ 125,245				$ 297,327				$ 125,245	$ 297,327