Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2015	Nov. 29, 2014	Aug. 30, 2014	May 31, 2014	Mar. 01, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013	Jun. 01, 2013	Feb. 28, 2015 item	Mar. 01, 2014	Mar. 02, 2013
Current tax:
Federal											$ (6,305)
State									6,011	4,748	7,928
Total current tax expense (benefit)									6,011	4,748	1,623
Deferred tax and other:
Federal									(1,544,344)		(61,544)
State									(144,020)	(30,609)	(50,679)
Tax expense recorded as an increase of additional paid-in capital										26,665
Total deferred tax expense (benefit)									(1,688,364)	(3,944)	(112,223)
Total income tax (benefit) expense	(1,715,965)	1,871	19,860	11,881	(6,006)	1,388	2,210	3,212	(1,682,353)	804	(110,600)
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%									149,389	87,576	2,626
Nondeductible expenses									805	857	1,897
State income taxes, net									11,565	44,366	39,470
Decrease of previously recorded liabilities									(3,698)	(21,101)	(91,881)
Nondeductible compensation									5,136	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									(1,841,304)	(161,079)	(94,318)
Other									(4,246)
Total income tax (benefit) expense	(1,715,965)	1,871	19,860	11,881	(6,006)	1,388	2,210	3,212	(1,682,353)	804	(110,600)
Cumulative profitability period used to determine change in valuation allowance									3 years
Number of consecutive quarters' reported earnings used to determine change in valuation allowance									10
Number of years' utilization of federal and state NOL's used to determine change in valuation allowance									3 years
Deferred tax assets:
Accounts receivable	68,582				62,973				68,582	62,973
Accrued expenses	207,553				204,346				207,553	204,346
Liability for lease exit costs	98,906				116,803				98,906	116,803
Pension, retirement and other benefits	175,081				174,917				175,081	174,917
Long-lived assets	475,187				424,290				475,187	424,290
Other	5,232				1,989				5,232	1,989
Credits	63,826				60,951				63,826	60,951
Net operating losses	1,300,964				1,428,751				1,300,964	1,428,751
Total gross deferred tax assets	2,395,331				2,475,020				2,395,331	2,475,020
Valuation allowance	(231,679)				(2,060,811)				(231,679)	(2,060,811)
Total deferred tax assets	2,163,652				414,209				2,163,652	414,209
Deferred tax liabilities:
Inventory	437,165				414,209				437,165	414,209
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	437,165				414,209				437,165	414,209
Net deferred tax assets	1,726,487								1,726,487
Reconciliation of beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits
Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of the period				10,143				30,020	10,143	30,020	247,722
Increases to prior year tax positions									1,003		6,305
Decreases to tax positions in prior periods									(984)	(3,215)	(196,214)
Increases to current year tax positions									123
Settlements									(681)		(3,655)
Lapse of statute of limitations									(90)	(16,662)	(24,138)
Unrecognized tax benefits balance at end of the period	9,514				10,143				9,514	10,143	30,020
Unrecognized tax benefits which would impact effective tax rate, if recognized	440				876				440	876	14,651
Recoverable indemnification asset from Jean Coutu Group	$ 0				$ 195				$ 0	$ 195	$ 30,710