Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 26, 2015	Apr. 27, 2014	Apr. 28, 2013
Current:
State	$ (167)	$ 7,352	$ (1,005)
Total	(167)	7,352	(1,005)
Deferred:
Federal	(3,219)	10,116	(3,888)
State	2,275	1,026	(1,839)
Total	(944)	11,142	(5,727)
Income tax (provision) benefit	(1,111)	18,494	(6,732)
Statutory corporate federal tax rate (as a percent)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Reconciliation of income taxes from continuing operations
Statutory tax (provision) benefit	(2,201)	51,856	16,007
Effects of :
State taxes	3,589	10,396	(459)
Reduction of unrecognized tax benefits		5,010
Other
Lobbying & Referendum costs	2,018	607	752
Tax credits	959	1,112	665
Fines & Penalties	(18)	(26)	(204)
Meals & Entertainment	(48)	(62)	(72)
Permanent differences	(15)	(16)	(52)
Interest		(446)	(161)
Goodwill impairment		(45,088)	(17,535)
Valuation allowance	(919)	(2,668)	(3,985)
Expiration of stock awards	(611)
Other	171	(967)	(184)
Income tax (provision) benefit	(1,111)	18,494	(6,732)
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property and equipment	(37,421)	(46,867)
Goodwill and intangibles	(21,527)	(16,810)
Gain on early extinguishment of debt	(14,613)	(19,673)
Other	(347)	64
Total deferred tax liabilities	(73,908)	(83,286)
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating losses	62,672	72,878
Employment tax credits	22,378	22,043
Accrued expenses	8,383	8,415
Alternative minimum tax credit	2,481	1,338
Other	4,105	4,748
Total deferred tax assets	100,019	109,422
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets	(58,819)	(57,900)	(56,429)
Net deferred tax asset	41,200	51,522
Net deferred tax asset/(liability)	$ (32,708)	$ (31,764)