COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Minimum rentals	$ 162,761,000	$ 155,129,000	$ 147,129,000
Additional rent based upon sales	1,059,000	1,715,000	2,145,000
Sublease income	(106,000)	(630,000)	(611,000)
2012	155,633,000
2013	139,705,000
2014	120,336,000
2015	104,992,000
2016	92,178,000
Thereafter	292,788,000
Total minimum lease payments	905,632,000
Purchase Commitment, Description	7000
Severance Benefits Non-change in Control	5,700,000
Severance Benefits Change in Control	19,000,000
Purchase Commitments Construction [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation	2,500,000
New Stores Executed Leases [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Executed Operating Leases	18
Remodel Stores Executed Leases [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Executed Operating Leases	9
Purchase Commitments Merchandise [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation	$ 313,100,000