Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Mar. 01, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013	Jun. 01, 2013	Mar. 02, 2013	Dec. 01, 2012	Sep. 01, 2012	Jun. 02, 2012	Mar. 01, 2014	Mar. 02, 2013	Mar. 03, 2012
Current tax:
Federal										$ (6,305)
State									4,748	7,928	3,654
Total current tax expense (benefit)									4,748	1,623	3,654
Deferred tax and other:
Federal										(61,544)	1,729
State									(30,609)	(50,679)	(29,069)
Tax expense recorded as an increase of additional paid-in capital									26,665
Total deferred tax expense (benefit)									(3,944)	(112,223)	(27,340)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	(6,006)	1,388	2,210	3,212	(46,782)	777	(2,866)	(61,729)	804	(110,600)	(23,686)
Reconciliation of the expected statutory federal tax and the total income tax expense (benefit)
Federal statutory tax rate (as a percent)									35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Expected federal statutory expense at 35%									87,576	2,626	(137,279)
Nondeductible expenses									857	1,897	2,408
State income taxes, net									44,366	39,470	11,492
Decrease of previously recorded liabilities									(21,101)	(91,881)	(17,771)
Nondeductible compensation									44,244
Recoverable federal tax due to special 5-year NOL carryback										(6,305)
Release of indemnification asset									5,941	37,324
Indemnification receipt										587
Valuation allowance									(161,079)	(94,318)	117,464
Total income tax expense (benefit)	(6,006)	1,388	2,210	3,212	(46,782)	777	(2,866)	(61,729)	804	(110,600)	(23,686)
Deferred tax assets:
Accounts receivable	62,973				62,745				62,973	62,745
Accrued expenses	204,346				214,110				204,346	214,110
Liability for lease exit costs	116,803				142,456				116,803	142,456
Pension, retirement and other benefits	174,917				219,515				174,917	219,515
Long-lived assets	424,290				374,101				424,290	374,101
Other	1,989				2,079				1,989	2,079
Credits	60,951				62,121				60,951	62,121
Net operating losses	1,428,751				1,558,694				1,428,751	1,558,694
Total gross deferred tax assets	2,475,020				2,635,821				2,475,020	2,635,821
Valuation allowance	(2,060,811)				(2,223,675)				(2,060,811)	(2,223,675)
Total deferred tax assets	414,209				412,146				414,209	412,146
Deferred tax liabilities:
Inventory	414,209				412,146				414,209	412,146
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	414,209				412,146				414,209	412,146
Reconciliation of beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits
Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of the period				30,020				247,722	30,020	247,722	286,952
Increases to prior year tax positions										6,305
Decreases to tax positions in prior periods									(3,215)	(196,214)	(11,125)
Settlements										(3,655)
Lapse of statute of limitations									(16,662)	(24,138)	(28,105)
Unrecognized tax benefits balance at end of the period	10,143				30,020				10,143	30,020	247,722
Unrecognized tax benefits which would impact effective tax rate, if recognized	876				14,651				876	14,651	83,804
Recoverable indemnification asset from Jean Coutu Group	$ 195				$ 30,710				$ 195	$ 30,710	$ 156,797