CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Mar. 02, 2013	Dec. 01, 2012	Sep. 01, 2012	Jun. 02, 2012	Mar. 03, 2012	Nov. 26, 2011	Aug. 27, 2011	May 28, 2011	Mar. 02, 2013	Mar. 03, 2012	Feb. 26, 2011
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Revenues	$ 6,455,245	$ 6,237,847	$ 6,230,884	$ 6,468,287	$ 7,146,754	$ 6,312,584	$ 6,271,091	$ 6,390,793	$ 25,392,263	$ 26,121,222	$ 25,214,907
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold	4,407,482	4,426,526	4,520,463	4,719,516	5,364,679	4,641,204	4,622,130	4,699,874	18,073,987	19,327,887	18,522,403
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,682,332	1,612,198	1,618,169	1,688,066	1,758,325	1,583,098	1,603,752	1,586,236	6,600,765	6,531,411	6,457,833
Lease termination and impairment charges	36,567	14,366	7,783	12,143	56,305	11,540	15,118	17,090	70,859	100,053	210,893
Interest expense	127,408	128,371	129,054	130,588	137,739	129,927	130,829	130,760	515,421	529,255	547,581
Loss on debt retirements, net	122,660			17,842	16,066		(4,924)	22,434	140,502	33,576	44,003
Gain on sale of assets, net	2,491	(6,262)	(2,954)	(10,051)	(891)	(2,172)	(848)	(4,792)	(16,776)	(8,703)	(22,224)
Total costs and expenses	6,378,940	6,175,199	6,272,515	6,558,104	7,332,223	6,363,597	6,366,057	6,451,602	25,384,758	26,513,479	25,760,489
Income (loss) before income taxes	76,305	62,648	(41,631)	(89,817)	(185,469)	(51,013)	(94,966)	(60,809)	7,505	(392,257)	(545,582)
Income tax (benefit) expense	(46,782)	777	(2,866)	(61,729)	(24,219)	972	(2,712)	2,273	(110,600)	(23,686)	9,842
Net income (loss)	123,087	61,871	(38,765)	(28,088)	(161,250)	(51,985)	(92,254)	(63,082)	118,105	(368,571)	(555,424)
Computation of income (loss) applicable to common stockholders:
Net income (loss)	123,087	61,871	(38,765)	(28,088)	(161,250)	(51,985)	(92,254)	(63,082)	118,105	(368,571)	(555,424)
Accretion of redeemable preferred stock									(102)	(102)	(102)
Cumulative preferred stock dividends									(10,528)	(9,919)	(9,346)
Income (loss) attributable to common stockholders-basic									107,475	(378,592)	(564,872)
Income (loss) attributable to common stockholders-diluted									$ 107,475	$ (378,592)	$ (564,872)
Basic and diluted income (loss) per share (in dollars per share)									$ 0.12	$ (0.43)	$ (0.64)