Income taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2019	Feb. 02, 2018	Feb. 03, 2017
Current:
Federal	$ 320,361	$ 426,933	$ 613,009
Foreign	159	105	135
State	53,091	79,011	88,990
Total current income taxes	373,611	506,049	702,134
Deferred:
Federal	48,262	(159,728)	11,053
Foreign	(38)	(22)
State	4,109	22,021	1,308
Total deferred income taxes	52,333	(137,729)	12,361
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes	425,944	368,320	714,495
Reconciliation between actual income taxes and amounts computed by applying federal statutory rate
U.S. federal statutory rate on earnings before income taxes	423,237	643,326	687,969
Impact of tax rate changes	(12,222)	(310,756)
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	44,584	61,201	60,168
Jobs credits, net of federal income taxes	(27,506)	(26,759)	(18,952)
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowances, net of federal taxes		4,435	(1,474)
Stock-based compensation programs	(3,682)	(2,227)	(9,915)
Increase (decrease) in income tax reserves	3,952	(1,837)	(2,161)
Other, net	(2,419)	937	(1,140)
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes	$ 425,944	$ 368,320	$ 714,495
Reconciliation between actual income taxes rate and federal statutory rate
U.S. federal statutory rate on earnings before income taxes (as a percent)	21.00%	33.70%	35.00%
Impact of tax rate changes (as a percent)	(0.60%)	(16.30%)
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit (as a percent)	2.20%	3.20%	3.10%
Jobs credits, net of federal income taxes (as a percent)	(1.40%)	(1.40%)	(1.00%)
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowances, net of federal taxes (as a percent)		0.20%	(0.10%)
Stock-based compensation programs (as a percent)	(0.20%)	(0.10%)	(0.50%)
Increase (decrease) in income tax reserves (as a percent)	0.20%	(0.10%)	(0.10%)
Other, net (as a percent)	(0.10%)	0.10%	(0.10%)
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes (as a percent)	21.10%	19.30%	36.30%
Total provisional tax benefit	$ 335,000
Provisional tax benefit after the rate reduction	$ 24,200
Increase in tax rate	1.80%
Decrease in tax rate		17.00%
Deferred tax assets:
Deferred compensation expense	$ 6,490	$ 6,522
Accrued expenses	3,278	3,324
Accrued rent	22,668	23,418
Accrued insurance	6,869	8,630
Accrued incentive compensation	15,219	6,394
Share based compensation	15,713	13,442
Interest rate hedges	1,421	1,765
Tax benefit of income tax and interest reserves related to uncertain tax positions	472	365
Deferred gain on sale- leaseback	11,649	12,847
Other	3,942	3,900
State tax net operating loss carryforwards, net of federal tax	598	602
State tax credit carry forwards, net of federal tax	8,245	8,350
Total deferred tax assets, gross	96,564	89,559
Less valuation allowances, net of federal taxes	(4,433)	(4,435)
Total deferred tax assets	92,131	85,124
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property and equipment	(322,575)	(255,215)
Inventories	(56,221)	(46,244)
Trademarks	(308,793)	(269,820)
Prepaid insurance	(12,639)	(22,875)
Other	(1,590)	(6,672)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(701,818)	(600,826)
Net deferred tax liabilities	(609,687)	(515,702)
State tax credit carryforwards that will expire beginning in 2022 through 2028	8,200
Apportioned state net operating loss carryforwards that will expire beginning in 2033 through 2039	17,200
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance for state tax credit carryforwards			$ (1,500)
Reserve for uncertain tax positions that would impact effective tax rate if recognized	5,000
Interest accrued related to uncertain tax benefits	800	700
Potential penalties accrued related to uncertain tax benefits	900	800
Reserves for uncertain tax benefits included in noncurrent Other liabilities	6,700	2,500
Income tax amounts associated with uncertain tax positions
Income tax expense (benefit)	3,919	(2,076)	(3,795)
Income tax related interest expense (benefit)	133	(123)	(31)
Income tax related penalty expense (benefit)	33	(9)	50
Reconciliation of the uncertain income tax positions
Beginning Balance	1,041	3,117	6,964
Increases - tax positions taken in the current year	95	66	41
Increases - tax positions taken in prior years	3,914	27	52
Decreases - tax positions taken in prior years			(1,435)
Statute expirations		(2,169)	(2,453)
Settlements	(90)		(52)
Ending Balance	$ 4,960	$ 1,041	$ 3,117