Guarantor subsidiaries (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Jul. 29, 2011	Jan. 28, 2011	Jul. 30, 2010	Jan. 29, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 113,050	$ 497,446	$ 281,421	$ 222,076
Merchandise inventories	1,973,863	1,765,433
Income taxes receivable	43,435
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	142,433	104,946
Total current assets	2,272,781	2,367,825
Net property and equipment	1,622,991	1,524,575
Goodwill	4,338,589	4,338,589
Intangible assets, net	1,245,773	1,256,922
Other assets, net	48,969	58,311
Total assets	9,529,103	9,546,222
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	963	1,157
Accounts payable	1,122,949	953,641
Accrued expenses and other	366,623	347,741
Income taxes payable	810	25,980
Deferred income taxes	35,606	36,854
Total current liabilities	1,526,951	1,365,373
Long-term obligations	2,779,408	3,287,070
Deferred income taxes	624,034	598,565
Other liabilities	215,875	231,582
Redeemable common stock	9,271	9,153
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	298,842	298,819
Additional paid-in capital	2,951,761	2,945,024
Retained earnings	1,133,943	830,932
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(10,982)	(20,296)
Total shareholders' equity	4,373,564	4,054,479
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,529,103	9,546,222
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	55,434	111,545	106,970	97,620
Income taxes receivable	64,469	13,529
Deferred income taxes	9,426	8,877
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	846,397	741,352
Total current assets	975,726	875,303
Net property and equipment	108,515	105,155
Goodwill	4,338,589	4,338,589
Intangible assets, net	1,199,200	1,199,200
Other assets, net	5,894,512	5,337,522
Total assets	12,516,542	11,855,769
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	4,555,164	3,691,564
Accrued expenses and other	63,129	68,398
Income taxes payable		11,922
Total current liabilities	4,618,293	3,771,884
Long-term obligations	3,040,467	3,534,447
Deferred income taxes	429,986	417,874
Other liabilities	44,961	67,932
Redeemable common stock	9,271	9,153
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	298,842	298,819
Additional paid-in capital	2,951,761	2,945,024
Retained earnings	1,133,943	830,932
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(10,982)	(20,296)
Total shareholders' equity	4,373,564	4,054,479
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	12,516,542	11,855,769
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES.
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	36,613	364,404	153,561	103,001
Merchandise inventories	1,973,863	1,765,433
Income taxes receivable	4,700
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,574,666	3,698,117
Total current assets	6,589,842	5,827,954
Net property and equipment	1,514,223	1,419,133
Intangible assets, net	46,573	57,722
Other assets, net	13,071	12,675
Total assets	8,163,709	7,317,484
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	963	1,157
Accounts payable	1,791,240	1,541,593
Accrued expenses and other	251,049	226,225
Income taxes payable		13,246
Deferred income taxes	59,099	52,556
Total current liabilities	2,102,351	1,834,777
Long-term obligations	3,162,953	3,000,877
Deferred income taxes	243,490	228,381
Other liabilities	29,473	27,250
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	23,855	23,855
Additional paid-in capital	431,253	431,253
Retained earnings	2,170,334	1,771,091
Total shareholders' equity	2,625,442	2,226,199
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	8,163,709	7,317,484
OTHER SUBSIDIARIES
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	21,003	21,497	20,890	21,455
Deferred income taxes	14,067	6,825
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,312	4,454
Total current assets	39,382	32,776
Net property and equipment	253	287
Deferred income taxes	49,442	47,690
Other assets, net	320,935	304,285
Total assets	410,012	385,038
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	50,718	50,824
Accrued expenses and other	61,214	61,755
Income taxes payable	26,544	14,341
Total current liabilities	138,476	126,920
Other liabilities	141,441	136,400
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	100	100
Additional paid-in capital	19,900	19,900
Retained earnings	110,095	101,718
Total shareholders' equity	130,095	121,718
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	410,012	385,038
ELIMINATIONS
Current assets:
Income taxes receivable	(25,734)	(13,529)
Deferred income taxes	(23,493)	(15,702)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(5,282,942)	(4,338,977)
Total current assets	(5,332,169)	(4,368,208)
Deferred income taxes	(49,442)	(47,690)
Other assets, net	(6,179,549)	(5,596,171)
Total assets	(11,561,160)	(10,012,069)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(5,274,173)	(4,330,340)
Accrued expenses and other	(8,769)	(8,637)
Income taxes payable	(25,734)	(13,529)
Deferred income taxes	(23,493)	(15,702)
Total current liabilities	(5,332,169)	(4,368,208)
Long-term obligations	(3,424,012)	(3,248,254)
Deferred income taxes	(49,442)	(47,690)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	(23,955)	(23,955)
Additional paid-in capital	(451,153)	(451,153)
Retained earnings	(2,280,429)	(1,872,809)
Total shareholders' equity	(2,755,537)	(2,347,917)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (11,561,160)	$ (10,012,069)