Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Mar. 03, 2012	Nov. 26, 2011	Aug. 27, 2011	May 28, 2011	Feb. 26, 2011	Nov. 27, 2010	Aug. 28, 2010	May 29, 2010	Mar. 03, 2012	Feb. 26, 2011	Feb. 27, 2010
Current tax expense (benefit):
Federal										$ (36)	$ (4,819)
State									3,654	9,348	3,330
Total current tax expense (benefit)									3,654	9,312	(1,489)
Deferred tax expense (benefit):
Federal									1,729	1,959	1,849
State									(29,069)	(1,429)	26,398
Total deferred tax expense (benefit)									(27,340)	530	28,247
Total income tax expense (benefit)	(24,219)	972	(2,712)	2,273	1,488	(1,613)	2,826	7,141	(23,686)	9,842	26,758
Reconciliation of the expected statutory federal tax and the total income tax benefit
Federal statutory tax rate (as a percent)									35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Expected federal statutory expense at 35%									(137,279)	(190,956)	(167,972)
Nondeductible expenses									2,408	1,354	2,941
State income taxes, net									11,492	(18,139)	(24,662)
Increase (decrease) of previously recorded liabilities									(17,771)	647	18,359
Recoverable AMT tax due to special 5-year NOL carryback											(4,790)
Valuation allowance									117,464	216,936	202,882
Total income tax expense (benefit)	(24,219)	972	(2,712)	2,273	1,488	(1,613)	2,826	7,141	(23,686)	9,842	26,758
Deferred tax assets:
Accounts receivable	54,119				39,021				54,119	39,021
Accrued expenses	252,560				266,523				252,560	266,523
Liability for lease exit costs	158,454				175,547				158,454	175,547
Pension, retirement and other benefits	218,197				188,658				218,197	188,658
Long-lived assets	298,877				233,317				298,877	233,317
Other	1,994				2,166				1,994	2,166
Credits	71,716				71,526				71,716	71,526
Net operating losses	1,584,626				1,578,714				1,584,626	1,578,714
Total gross deferred tax assets	2,640,543				2,555,472				2,640,543	2,555,472
Valuation allowance	(2,317,425)				(2,199,302)				(2,317,425)	(2,199,302)
Total deferred tax assets	323,118				356,170				323,118	356,170
Deferred tax liabilities:
Inventory	323,118				356,170				323,118	356,170
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	323,118				356,170				323,118	356,170
Reconciliation of beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits
Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of the period				286,952				300,707	286,952	300,707	280,394
Increases to prior year tax positions										8,872	8,661
Decreases to tax positions in prior periods									(11,125)	(16,940)	(306)
Increases to current year tax positions										821	12,669
Settlements										(2,498)
Lapse of statute of limitations									(28,105)	(4,010)	(711)
Unrecognized tax benefits balance at end of the period	247,722				286,952				247,722	286,952	300,707
Unrecognized tax benefits which would impact effective tax rate, if recognized	83,804				109,030				83,804	109,030	116,972
Recoverable indemnification asset from Jean Coutu Group	$ 156,797				$ 158,209				$ 156,797	$ 158,209	$ 146,053