GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 01, 2014	Feb. 02, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 46,629	$ 120,067	$ 73,270
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(90,707)	(77,336)	(73,770)
Proceeds from sale of property, fixtures and equipment	5,349	1,335	8,268
Net cash used in investing activities	(85,358)	(76,001)	(65,502)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(728,166)	(1,267,418)	(733,653)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	770,259	1,229,418	750,401
Debt exchange costs paid			(6,992)bont_PaymentsOfDebtExchangeCosts
Deferred financing costs paid	(69)us-gaap_PaymentsOfFinancingCosts	(11,133)us-gaap_PaymentsOfFinancingCosts	(1,135)us-gaap_PaymentsOfFinancingCosts
Cash dividends paid	(3,956)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(2,952)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(4,855)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Restricted shares forfeited in lieu of payroll taxes	(1,937)	(2,134)	(1,660)
Proceeds from stock options exercised	22	595	538
Increase (decrease) in book overdraft balances	4,271	8,690	(16,758)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	40,424	(44,934)	(14,114)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,695	(868)	(6,346)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	7,058	7,926	14,272
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	8,753	7,058	7,926
Consolidation, Eliminations
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	(11,279)	(9,142)	(9,959)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Intercompany investing activity	807	1,162	2,405
Net cash used in investing activities	807	1,162	2,405
Cash flows from financing activities:
Intercompany financing activity	10,472	7,980	7,554
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	10,472	7,980	7,554
Parent Company \| Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	5,893	5,086	6,515
Cash flows from investing activities:
Intercompany investing activity	(22)	(595)	(538)
Net cash used in investing activities	(22)	(595)	(538)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash dividends paid	(3,956)	(2,952)	(4,855)
Restricted shares forfeited in lieu of payroll taxes	(1,937)	(2,134)	(1,660)
Proceeds from stock options exercised	22	595	538
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(5,871)	(4,491)	(5,977)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1	1	1
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1	1	1
Subsidiary Issuer \| Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	25,364	92,921	52,848
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(77,042)	(60,458)	(55,835)
Intercompany investing activity	(785)	(567)	(1,867)
Proceeds from sale of property, fixtures and equipment	46	1,332	31
Net cash used in investing activities	(77,781)	(59,693)	(57,671)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(716,768)	(1,257,776)	(717,119)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	770,259	1,229,418	750,401
Intercompany financing activity	(3,956)	(2,952)	(4,855)
Debt exchange costs paid			(6,992)
Deferred financing costs paid	(69)	(11,133)	(1,135)
Increase (decrease) in book overdraft balances	4,271	8,690	(16,758)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	53,737	(33,753)	3,542
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,320	(525)	(1,281)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,889	3,414	4,695
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	4,209	2,889	3,414
Guarantor Subsidiaries \| Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	16,986	19,304	15,907
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(13,665)	(16,878)	(17,935)
Proceeds from sale of property, fixtures and equipment	303	3	3
Net cash used in investing activities	(13,362)	(16,875)	(17,932)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(3,249)	(2,772)	(3,040)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(3,249)	(2,772)	(3,040)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	375	(343)	(5,065)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	4,168	4,511	9,576
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	4,543	4,168	4,511
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries \| Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	9,665	11,898	7,959
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of property, fixtures and equipment	5,000		8,234
Net cash used in investing activities	5,000		8,234
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(8,149)	(6,870)	(13,494)
Intercompany financing activity	(6,516)	(5,028)	(2,699)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	$ (14,665)	$ (11,898)	$ (16,193)

The net cash outflow or inflow associated with intercompany investing activities during the period.

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The cash outflow for incremental, external costs directly pertaining to an exchange of debt, including legal costs and prepayment penalties, and excluding interest and repayment of debt principal.

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The net cash inflow or outflow from intercompany financing activities during the period.

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

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The increase (decrease) in cash during the period due to the net increase or decrease in book overdrafts.

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The increase (decrease) in cash associated with the entity's continuing operating, investing, and financing activities. While for technical reasons this element has no balance attribute, the default assumption is a debit balance consistent with its label.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) of financing activities, excluding discontinued operations. Financing activity cash flows include obtaining resources from owners and providing them with a return on, and a return of, their investment; borrowing money and repaying amounts borrowed, or settling the obligation; and obtaining and paying for other resources obtained from creditors on long-term credit.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) of investing activities, excluding discontinued operations. Investing activity cash flows include making and collecting loans and acquiring and disposing of debt or equity instruments and property, plant, and equipment and other productive assets.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities, excluding discontinued operations. Operating activity cash flows include transactions, adjustments, and changes in value not defined as investing or financing activities.

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Cash outflow in the form of capital distributions and dividends to common shareholders, preferred shareholders and noncontrolling interests.

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The cash outflow for loan and debt issuance costs.

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Amount of cash outflow to satisfy an employee's income tax withholding obligation as part of a net-share settlement of a share-based award.

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The cash outflow for purchases of and capital improvements on property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

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The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

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The cash inflow from the sale of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale.

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The cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders exercising their stock options. This item inherently excludes any excess tax benefit, which the entity may have realized and reported separately.

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The cash outflow associated with security instruments that either represent a creditor or an ownership relationship with the holder of the investment security with a maturity of beyond one year or normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes repayments of (a) debt, (b) capital lease obligations, (c) mandatory redeemable capital securities, and (d) any combination of (a), (b), or (c).

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