Unit-Based Compensation Arrangements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 23, 2012	Jun. 25, 2011	Jun. 23, 2012	Jun. 25, 2011	Sep. 24, 2011
Units [Rollforward]
Outstanding September 24, 2011 (in units)			485,423
Awarded (in units)			108,674
Forfeited (in units)			(11,093)
Issued (in units)			(115,911)
Outstanding June 23, 2012 (in units)	467,093		467,093
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Unit [Abstract]
Outstanding September 24, 2011 (in dollars per unit)			$ 32.71
Awarded (in dollars per unit)			$ 32.60
Forfeited (in dollars per unit)	$ (30.63)		$ (30.63)
Issued (in dollars per unit)			$ (31.77)
Outstanding June 23, 2012 (in dollars per unit)	$ 33.04		$ 33.04
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total number of Common Units authorized for issuance under the Restricted Unit Plans	1,902,122		1,902,122
Restricted Unit Plans, terms of award			Unless otherwise stipulated by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Supervisors on or before the grant date, restricted units issued under the Restricted Unit Plans vest over time with 25% of the Common Units vesting on each of the third and fourth anniversaries of the grant date and the remaining 50% of the Common Units vesting on the fifth anniversary of the grant date. The Restricted Unit Plans participants are not eligible to receive quarterly distributions with respect to or vote their respective restricted units until vested. Because each restricted unit represents a promise to issue a Common Unit at a future date, restricted units cannot be sold or transferred prior to vesting.
Aggregate grant date fair value of restricted units awarded			$ 3,543
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted units awarded under the Restricted Unit Plans	6,264		6,264
Weighted-average period over which compensation cost associated with unvested awards is expected to be recognized (in years)			1.8
Compensation expense - Restricted Unit Plans (RUP)	911	737	3,261	3,136
Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Long-Term incentive Plan, terms of award			The Partnership has a non-qualified, unfunded long-term incentive plan for officers and key employees (the "LTIP") which provides for payment, in the form of cash, of an award of equity-based compensation at the end of a three-year performance period.
Compensation expense - Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)	(49)	31	643	1,532
Liability included within accrued employment and benefit costs (or other liabilities, as applicable) related to estimated future payments under the LTIP	$ 2,471		$ 2,471		$ 5,164