Guarantor subsidiaries (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 28, 2011	Jan. 28, 2011	Oct. 29, 2010	Jan. 29, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 118,580	$ 497,446	$ 237,906	$ 222,076
Merchandise inventories	2,089,722	1,765,433
Income taxes receivable	48,807
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	135,746	104,946
Total current assets	2,392,855	2,367,825
Net property and equipment	1,716,797	1,524,575
Goodwill	4,338,589	4,338,589
Intangible assets, net	1,240,733	1,256,922
Other assets, net	46,908	58,311
Total assets	9,735,882	9,546,222
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	763	1,157
Accounts payable	1,132,544	953,641
Accrued expenses and other	414,977	347,741
Income taxes payable	1,111	25,980
Deferred income taxes	22,826	36,854
Total current liabilities	1,572,221	1,365,373
Long-term obligations	2,721,061	3,287,070
Deferred income taxes	647,329	598,565
Other liabilities	233,950	231,582
Redeemable common stock	7,309	9,153
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	299,514	298,819
Additional paid-in capital	2,957,267	2,945,024
Retained earnings	1,305,107	830,932
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(7,876)	(20,296)
Total shareholders' equity	4,554,012	4,054,479
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,735,882	9,546,222
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	767	111,545	45,332	97,620
Income taxes receivable	65,785	13,529
Deferred income taxes	8,828	8,877
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	758,754	741,352
Total current assets	834,134	875,303
Net property and equipment	110,458	105,155
Goodwill	4,338,589	4,338,589
Intangible assets, net	1,199,200	1,199,200
Other assets, net	6,173,056	5,337,522
Total assets	12,655,437	11,855,769
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	4,528,433	3,691,564
Accrued expenses and other	92,826	68,398
Income taxes payable		11,922
Total current liabilities	4,621,259	3,771,884
Long-term obligations	2,982,075	3,534,447
Deferred income taxes	430,111	417,874
Other liabilities	60,671	67,932
Redeemable common stock	7,309	9,153
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	299,514	298,819
Additional paid-in capital	2,957,267	2,945,024
Retained earnings	1,305,107	830,932
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(7,876)	(20,296)
Total shareholders' equity	4,554,012	4,054,479
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	12,655,437	11,855,769
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES.
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	94,025	364,404	169,938	103,001
Merchandise inventories	2,089,722	1,765,433
Income taxes receivable	3,398
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,520,553	3,698,117
Total current assets	6,707,698	5,827,954
Net property and equipment	1,606,084	1,419,133
Intangible assets, net	41,533	57,722
Other assets, net	13,998	12,675
Total assets	8,369,313	7,317,484
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	763	1,157
Accounts payable	1,693,176	1,541,593
Accrued expenses and other	272,915	226,225
Income taxes payable		13,246
Deferred income taxes	38,554	52,556
Total current liabilities	2,005,408	1,834,777
Long-term obligations	3,251,852	3,000,877
Deferred income taxes	266,956	228,381
Other liabilities	30,896	27,250
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	23,855	23,855
Additional paid-in capital	431,253	431,253
Retained earnings	2,359,093	1,771,091
Total shareholders' equity	2,814,201	2,226,199
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	8,369,313	7,317,484
OTHER SUBSIDIARIES
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	23,788	21,497	22,636	21,455
Deferred income taxes	6,900	6,825
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	9,111	4,454
Total current assets	39,799	32,776
Net property and equipment	255	287
Deferred income taxes	49,738	47,690
Other assets, net	322,233	304,285
Total assets	412,025	385,038
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	50,944	50,824
Accrued expenses and other	61,899	61,755
Income taxes payable	21,487	14,341
Total current liabilities	134,330	126,920
Other liabilities	142,383	136,400
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	100	100
Additional paid-in capital	19,900	19,900
Retained earnings	115,312	101,718
Total shareholders' equity	135,312	121,718
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	412,025	385,038
ELIMINATIONS
Current assets:
Income taxes receivable	(20,376)	(13,529)
Deferred income taxes	(15,728)	(15,702)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(5,152,672)	(4,338,977)
Total current assets	(5,188,776)	(4,368,208)
Deferred income taxes	(49,738)	(47,690)
Other assets, net	(6,462,379)	(5,596,171)
Total assets	(11,700,893)	(10,012,069)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(5,140,009)	(4,330,340)
Accrued expenses and other	(12,663)	(8,637)
Income taxes payable	(20,376)	(13,529)
Deferred income taxes	(15,728)	(15,702)
Total current liabilities	(5,188,776)	(4,368,208)
Long-term obligations	(3,512,866)	(3,248,254)
Deferred income taxes	(49,738)	(47,690)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	(23,955)	(23,955)
Additional paid-in capital	(451,153)	(451,153)
Retained earnings	(2,474,405)	(1,872,809)
Total shareholders' equity	(2,949,513)	(2,347,917)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (11,700,893)	$ (10,012,069)