Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Dec. 03, 2011	Dec. 04, 2010	Dec. 03, 2011	Dec. 04, 2010
Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract]
Sales	$ 1,571,342	$ 1,793,805	$ 5,440,682	$ 6,277,014
Cost of merchandise sold	(1,126,059)	(1,258,926)	(3,916,650)	(4,414,119)
Gross margin	445,283	534,879	1,524,032	1,862,895
Store operating, general and administrative expense	(499,610)	(635,586)	(1,795,239)	(2,087,826)
Goodwill, trademark and long-lived asset impairment	(25,138)	(42,036)	(104,680)	(77,684)
Loss from continuing operations before nonoperating income (loss), interest expense, net and reorganization items, net	(79,465)	(142,743)	(375,887)	(302,615)
Nonoperating income (loss)	61	(213)	152	10,241
Interest expense, net	(34,499)	(40,038)	(120,782)	(147,306)
Reorganization items, net	(10,510)		84,516
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(124,413)	(182,994)	(412,001)	(439,680)
Benefit from income taxes	1,182	2,953	14,270	2,708
Loss from continuing operations	(123,231)	(180,041)	(397,731)	(436,972)
Discontinued operations:
Loss from operations of discontinued businesses, net of income tax benefit of $243 and $2,849 for the 12 and 40 weeks ended December 3, 2011, respectively, and $0 for the 12 and 40 weeks ended December 4, 2010, respectively	(335)	(18,687)	(1,560)	(36,655)
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income tax provision of $0 for the 12 and 40 weeks ended December 3, 2011 and December 4, 2010, respectively				79
Reorganization items, net of income tax provision of $0 and $14,368 for the 12 and 40 weeks ended December 3, 2011, respectively			19,841
(Loss) income from discontinued operations	(335)	(18,687)	18,281	(36,576)
Net loss	$ (123,566)	$ (198,728)	$ (379,450)	$ (473,548)
Net (loss) income per share - basic:
Continuing operations	$ (2.31)	$ (3.42)	$ (7.45)	$ (8.41)
Discontinued operations	$ (0.01)	$ (0.34)	$ 0.34	$ (0.68)
Net loss per share - basic	$ (2.32)	$ (3.76)	$ (7.11)	$ (9.09)
Net (loss) income per share - diluted:
Continuing operations	$ (2.31)	$ (3.42)	$ (7.45)	$ (31.94)
Discontinued operations	$ (0.01)	$ (0.34)	$ 0.34	$ (2.53)
Net loss per share - diluted	$ (2.32)	$ (3.76)	$ (7.11)	$ (34.47)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	53,852,470	53,852,470	53,852,470	53,688,540
Diluted	53,852,470	53,852,470	53,852,470	14,448,398