Lease Termination and Impairment Charges (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Mar. 02, 2013 item	Dec. 01, 2012	Sep. 01, 2012	Jun. 02, 2012	Mar. 03, 2012	Nov. 26, 2011	Aug. 27, 2011	May 28, 2011	Mar. 02, 2013 item	Mar. 03, 2012	Feb. 26, 2011
Lease termination and impairment charges
Percentage of pharmacy business affected by rate compression									96.00%
Lease termination and impairment charges	$ 36,567,000	$ 14,366,000	$ 7,783,000	$ 12,143,000	$ 56,305,000	$ 11,540,000	$ 15,118,000	$ 17,090,000	$ 70,859,000	$ 100,053,000	$ 210,893,000
Number of stores	4,623								4,623
Revenues and operating losses of closed stores or stores approved for closure
Revenues	6,455,245,000	6,237,847,000	6,230,884,000	6,468,287,000	7,146,754,000	6,312,584,000	6,271,091,000	6,390,793,000	25,392,263,000	26,121,222,000	25,214,907,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	76,305,000	62,648,000	(41,631,000)	(89,817,000)	(185,469,000)	(51,013,000)	(94,966,000)	(60,809,000)	7,505,000	(392,257,000)	(545,582,000)
Depreciation and amortization									414,111,000	440,582,000	505,546,000
Impairment charges
Lease termination and impairment charges
Lease termination and impairment charges									24,892,000	51,998,000	115,121,000
Total number of locations									564	732	865
Cumulative active stores with impairment charges									1,118	1,091	1,058
Impairment charges | Maximum
Lease termination and impairment charges
Stores expected to be closed in next fiscal year	50								50
Facility and equipment lease exit charges
Lease termination and impairment charges
Number of stores	14				23				14	23	52
Lease termination charges									45,967,000	48,055,000	95,772,000
Number of leased distribution centers (in centers)											1
Closed store and distribution center charges
Balance-beginning of year				367,864,000				405,350,000	367,864,000	405,350,000	412,654,000
Provision for present value of noncancellable lease payments of closed stores									14,440,000	11,832,000	51,369,000
Changes in assumptions about future sublease income, terminations and changes in interest rates									9,023,000	11,305,000	19,585,000
Interest accretion									23,246,000	26,084,000	26,234,000
Cash payments, net of sublease income									(90,816,000)	(86,707,000)	(104,492,000)
Balance-end of year	323,757,000				367,864,000				323,757,000	367,864,000	405,350,000
Closed stores or stores approved for closure
Revenues and operating losses of closed stores or stores approved for closure
Revenues									99,034,000	308,835,000	452,799,000
Operating expenses									112,300,000	339,784,000	503,969,000
Gain from sale of assets									(19,877,000)	(15,212,000)	(19,369,000)
Other expenses									812,000	(6,202,000)	7,027,000
Income (loss) before income taxes									5,799,000	(9,535,000)	(38,828,000)
Depreciation and amortization									1,103,000	4,189,000	7,219,000
Inventory liquidation charges									1,039,000	873,000	4,897,000
Stores impaired in prior periods with no current charge
Lease termination and impairment charges
Lease termination and impairment charges									0	0	0
Number of stores	588				428				588	428	263
Stores with a current period charge
Lease termination and impairment charges
Number of stores	530				663				530	663	795
Active stores
Lease termination and impairment charges
Long-lived assets	1,922,000,000								1,922,000,000
Number of stores	4,623				4,667				4,623	4,667	4,714
Active stores | Impairment charges
Lease termination and impairment charges
Lease termination and impairment charges									23,973,000	43,353,000	108,999,000
Number of stores	530				663				530	663	795
Period considered for recording impairment charges on the basis of operating loss									2 years
Active stores | Additional current period charges for stores previously impaired in prior periods
Lease termination and impairment charges
Lease termination and impairment charges									5,835,000	9,822,000	17,825,000
Number of stores	469				591				469	591	584
Number of stores fully impaired									464	583	577
Active stores | Charges for the new and relocated stores that did not meet their asset recoverability test in the current period
Lease termination and impairment charges
Lease termination and impairment charges									9,190,000	18,926,000	36,015,000
Number of stores	14				19				14	19	44
Number of stores fully impaired									14	19	43
Period considered for impairment of relocated stores									2 years
Active stores | Charges for the new and relocated stores that did not meet their asset recoverability test in the current period | Minimum
Lease termination and impairment charges
Period considered for recording impairment charges on the basis of operating loss									2 years
Period considered for impairment of new stores									3 years
Active stores | Charges for the remaining stores that did not meet their asset recoverability test in the current period
Lease termination and impairment charges
Lease termination and impairment charges									8,948,000	14,605,000	55,159,000
Number of stores	47				53				47	53	167
Number of stores fully impaired									43	43	141
Active stores | Charges for the remaining stores that did not meet their asset recoverability test in the current period | Minimum
Lease termination and impairment charges
Period considered for recording impairment charges on the basis of operating loss									2 years
Closed facilities | Impairment charges
Lease termination and impairment charges
Lease termination and impairment charges									919,000	8,645,000	6,122,000
Number of facilities									34	69	70
Closed facilities | Actual and approved store closings
Lease termination and impairment charges
Lease termination and impairment charges									325,000	2,283,000	3,278,000
Number of facilities									29	55	51
Closed facilities | Actual and approved relocations
Lease termination and impairment charges
Lease termination and impairment charges										499,000	317,000
Number of facilities										2	1
Closed facilities | Distribution center closings
Lease termination and impairment charges
Lease termination and impairment charges											94,000
Number of facilities											1
Closed facilities | Existing surplus properties
Lease termination and impairment charges
Lease termination and impairment charges									594,000	5,863,000	2,433,000
Number of facilities									5	12	17
Owned stores which are closed | Impairment charges
Lease termination and impairment charges
Lease termination and impairment charges									$ 594,000	$ 5,863,000	$ 2,433,000