Leases

12 Months Ended

Jan. 28, 2017

Leases [Abstract]

Leases of Lessee Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 5. Leases

At January 28, 2017, the Company leased 284 stores under operating leases, many of which contain renewal options, for periods ranging from one to ten years. Most leases also provide for payment of operating expenses and real estate taxes. Some also provide for contingent rent based on percentage of sales over a certain sales volume. In addition, as more fully discussed in Note 12 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company leases its Albany, NY distribution center and administrative offices under an operating lease from an entity controlled by the estate of its former Chairman.

Net rental expense was as follows:

	Fiscal Year
	2016		2015		2014
	($ in thousands)
Minimum rentals	$	28,531	$	30,311	$	32,732
Contingent rentals		9		13		11
	$	28,540	$	30,324	$	32,743

Future minimum rental payments required under all leases that have initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms at January 28, 2017, are as follows:

		Operating
		Leases
($ in thousands)
	2017		24,778
	2018		14,671
	2019		8,386
	2020		6,765
	2021		4,716
	Thereafter		3,540
	Total minimum payments required	$	62,856

In addition to the obligations in the table above, a number of the Company’s stores have leases which have rent payments based on the store’s sales volume in lieu of fixed minimum rent payments. During fiscal 2016, minimum rent payments based on a store’s sales volume were $0.8 million.