CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 02, 2013	Aug. 03, 2012	Jul. 29, 2011
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 2,644,630	$ 2,580,195	$ 2,434,435
Cost of goods sold	854,684	827,484	772,471
Gross profit	1,789,946	1,752,711	1,661,964
Labor and other related expenses	962,559	951,435	904,229
Other store operating expenses	482,601	464,130	451,957
Store operating income	344,786	337,146	305,778
General and administrative expenses	143,262	146,171	139,222
Impairment and store dispositions, net	0	0	(625)
Operating income	201,524	190,975	167,181
Interest expense	35,742	44,687	51,490
Income before income taxes	165,782	146,288	115,691
Provision for income taxes	48,517	43,207	30,483
Net income	$ 117,265	$ 103,081	$ 85,208
Net income per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 4.95	$ 4.47	$ 3.70
Net income per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 4.90	$ 4.40	$ 3.61
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	23,708,875	23,067,566	22,998,200
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	23,948,321	23,408,126	23,634,675