Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 21, 2011	Dec. 22, 2010
Operating activities
Net earnings	$ 9,993	$ 8,765
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows (excluding investment operations of consolidated affiliated partnerships):
Depreciation and amortization	6,301	6,609
Provision for deferred income taxes	698	158
Asset impairments and provision for restaurant closings	0	283
Stock-based compensation and other non-cash expenses	157	301
Loss on disposal of assets	216	104
Realized investment gains/losses	(3,595)	(2,878)
Derivative and short sale gains/losses	0	(175)
Changes in receivables and inventories	(2,082)	1,273
Changes in other assets	(1,554)	1,161
Changes in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(1,085)	(742)
Investment operations of consolidated affiliated partnerships:
Purchases of investments	(5,114)	(16,997)
Sales of investments	11,268	31,447
Realized investment gains, net	(1,426)	(2,462)
Unrealized (gains) losses on marketable securities held by consolidated affiliated partnerships	(698)	(225)
Changes in due to/from broker and cash equivalents held by consolidated affiliated partnerships	(6,630)	401
Net cash provided by operating activities	6,449	27,023
Investing activities
Additions of property and equipment	(1,977)	(2,051)
Proceeds from property and equipment disposals	0	917
Purchases of investments	(7,085)	(2,554)
Sales of investments	26,259	33,439
Changes in due to/from broker	(7,272)	(3,903)
Net cash provided by investing activities	9,925	25,848
Financing activities
Proceeds from revolving credit facility	0	53,550
Payments on revolving credit facility	0	(57,300)
Principal payments on long-term debt	(42)	(24)
Principal payments on direct financing lease obligations	(1,272)	(2,398)
Proceeds and tax benefits from exercise of stock options and employees stock purchase plan	1	28
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards	445	0
Repurchase of employee shares for tax withholding	1	(14)
Financing activities of consolidated affiliated partnerships:
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	927	166
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	(15,016)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	60	(21,008)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	16,434	31,863
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	98,987	47,563
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 115,421	$ 79,426