CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 29, 2011	Jul. 30, 2010	Jul. 31, 2009
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 2,434,435	$ 2,404,515	$ 2,367,285
Cost of goods sold	772,471	745,818	764,909
Gross profit	1,661,964	1,658,697	1,602,376
Labor and other related expenses	904,229	908,211	916,256
Other store operating expenses	451,957	437,136	421,594
Store operating income	305,778	313,350	264,526
General and administrative expenses	139,222	145,882	120,199
Impairment and store dispositions, net	(625)	2,800	2,088
Operating income	167,181	164,668	142,239
Interest expense	51,490	48,959	52,177
Income before income taxes	115,691	115,709	90,062
Provision for income taxes	30,483	30,451	24,105
Income from continuing operations	85,208	85,258	65,957
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	(31)
Net income	$ 85,208	$ 85,258	$ 65,926
Basic net income per share:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 3.70	$ 3.71	$ 2.94
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 3.70	$ 3.71	$ 2.94
Diluted net income per share:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 3.61	$ 3.62	$ 2.89
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 3.61	$ 3.62	$ 2.89
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	22,998,200	23,007,856	22,458,971
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	23,634,675	23,579,752	22,787,633