Note 21. Schedule of reconciliation of segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						4 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 24, 2014	Jul. 02, 2014	Dec. 18, 2013	Sep. 25, 2013	Jul. 03, 2013	Dec. 19, 2012	Apr. 09, 2014	Apr. 10, 2013	Sep. 24, 2014 Consolidated	Sep. 25, 2013 Consolidated	Sep. 26, 2012 Consolidated	Sep. 24, 2014 Restaurant Operations - SteakNShake	Sep. 25, 2013 Restaurant Operations - SteakNShake	Sep. 26, 2012 Restaurant Operations - SteakNShake	Sep. 24, 2014 Restaurant Operations - Western	Sep. 25, 2013 Restaurant Operations - Western	Sep. 26, 2012 Restaurant Operations - Western	Sep. 24, 2014 Operating Businesses	Sep. 25, 2013 Operating Businesses	Sep. 26, 2012 Operating Businesses	Sep. 24, 2014 Operating Businesses Restaurant	Sep. 25, 2013 Operating Businesses Restaurant	Sep. 26, 2012 Operating Businesses Restaurant	Sep. 24, 2014 Operating Businesses First Guard	Sep. 25, 2013 Operating Businesses First Guard	Sep. 26, 2012 Operating Businesses First Guard	Sep. 24, 2014 Operating Businesses Maxim	Sep. 25, 2013 Operating Businesses Maxim	Sep. 26, 2012 Operating Businesses Maxim	Sep. 24, 2014 Corporate Corporate And Other	Sep. 25, 2013 Corporate Corporate And Other	Sep. 26, 2012 Corporate Corporate And Other	Sep. 24, 2014 Corporate Investment gains (including contributions)	Sep. 25, 2013 Corporate Investment gains (including contributions)	Sep. 26, 2012 Corporate Investment gains (including contributions)	Sep. 24, 2014 Corporate Investment partnerships gains	Sep. 25, 2013 Corporate Investment partnerships gains	Sep. 26, 2012 Corporate Investment partnerships gains	Sep. 24, 2014 Corporate TotalCorporateAndOtherMember	Sep. 25, 2013 Corporate TotalCorporateAndOtherMember	Sep. 26, 2012 Corporate TotalCorporateAndOtherMember	Sep. 24, 2014 ReconciliationOfSegmentsMember InterestExpenseMember	Sep. 25, 2013 ReconciliationOfSegmentsMember InterestExpenseMember	Sep. 26, 2012 ReconciliationOfSegmentsMember InterestExpenseMember
Earnings before income taxes	$ 13,048	$ 13,367	$ 24,864	$ 39,277	$ 169,834	$ 5,930	$ (12,263)	$ 1,420	$ 39,016	$ 216,461	$ 31,198	$ 26,494	$ 28,376	$ 45,622	$ 1,765	$ 511	$ 2,157	$ 13,739	$ 28,887	$ 47,779	$ 28,259	$ 28,887	$ 47,779	$ 1,461	$ 0	$ 0	$ (15,981)	$ 0	$ 0	$ (8,003)	$ (9,717)	$ (10,671)	$ 29,524	$ 183,774	$ 4,200	$ 14,055	$ 20,068	$ 0	$ 35,576	$ 194,125	$ (6,471)	$ (10,299)	$ (6,551)	$ (10,110)