Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 15,579	$ 12,226
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	15,385	13,378
Share-based compensation	2,154	2,376
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation	0	(223)
Deferred income taxes	878	(603)
Provision for doubtful accounts	62	82
Lower of cost or market inventory adjustments	2,128	1,112
Loss on asset disposals	716	325
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Trade receivables	(1,784)	(2,101)
Merchandise inventories	(24,814)	(13,308)
Other current assets	7,624	2,990
Other assets	308	(261)
Accounts payable	5,070	12,594
Accrued expenses and other	5,622	9,104
Deferred items and other non-current liabilities	95	1,180
Net cash provided by operating activities	29,023	38,871
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	29	36
Purchases of property and equipment	(15,640)	(20,832)
Net cash used in investing activities	(15,611)	(20,796)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings on line of credit	816	2,087
Repayments on line of credit	(816)	(2,087)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,141	1,314
Proceeds from sale of common stock pursuant to Associates Stock Buying Plan	296	318
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation	0	223
Treasury shares acquired	(114)	(4,766)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,323	(2,911)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	76	31
NET INCREASE IN CASH	14,811	15,195
CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD	45,675	48,408
CASH AT END OF PERIOD	60,486	63,603
Other cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	220	227
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds of $80 and $1,391	44	2,067
Non-cash investing activities
Property and equipment additions in accounts payable	$ 836	$ 1,326