Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Apr. 01, 2014
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 648,504,000	$ 605,337,000
Bakery-cafe expenses:
Cost of food and paper products	173,657,000	158,894,000
Labor	181,537,000	162,463,000
Occupancy	42,856,000	39,251,000
Other operating expenses	80,737,000	75,817,000
Total bakery-cafe expenses	478,787,000	436,425,000
Fresh dough and other product cost of sales to franchisees	36,266,000	35,634,000
Depreciation and amortization	33,947,000	29,442,000
General and administrative expenses	37,767,000	35,007,000
Pre-opening expenses	1,649,000	1,824,000
Refranchising loss	8,891,000	0
Total costs and expenses	597,307,000	538,332,000
Operating profit	51,197,000	67,005,000
Interest expense	486,000	623,000
Other (income) expense, net	(184,000)	(1,212,000)
Income before income taxes	50,895,000	67,594,000
Income taxes	19,035,000	25,199,000
Net income	31,860,000	42,395,000
Earnings Per Common Share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.20	$ 1.55
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.20	$ 1.55
Weighted average shares of common and common equivalent shares outstanding:
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	26,478	27,269
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	26,569	27,405
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(1,025,000)	(394,000)
Other comprehensive loss	(1,025,000)	(394,000)
Comprehensive Income	30,835,000	42,001,000
Operating Segments [Member]
Bakery-cafe expenses:
Depreciation and amortization	33,947,000
Company Bakery Cafe Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	573,676,000	535,549,000
Franchise Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	32,393,000	28,892,000
Fresh dough and other product sales to franchisees [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 42,435,000	$ 40,896,000