Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Dec. 03, 2011	Dec. 04, 2010
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$ (379,450)	$ (473,548)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities (see next page)	230,817	318,952
Other changes in assets and liabilities:
Decrease in receivables	56,236	17,803
Decrease in inventories	17,862	10,467
Increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets	(17,028)	(12,968)
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(32,346)	2,567
Decrease in accounts payable	(27,123)	(29,201)
Decrease in accrued salaries, wages and benefits, and taxes	(13,259)	(28,977)
Increase in other accruals	88,748	40,817
Decrease in other non-current liabilities	(67,780)	(25,156)
Other operating activities, net	282	(1,020)
Payments for reorganization items	(35,744)
Net cash used in operating activities	(178,785)	(180,264)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Expenditures for property	(33,076)	(62,854)
Proceeds from disposal of property	9,723	16,111
Proceeds from flood insurance	6,500	6,410
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	38,302	22,075
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	(3,284)	303
Proceeds from sale of pharmacy assets	4,785
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	22,950	(17,955)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		800
Principal payments on long-term debt	(142)	(201)
Proceeds under revolving lines of credit		619,500
Principal payments on revolving lines of credit		(636,384)
Principal payments on long-term real estate liabilities	(802)	(980)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transaction		89,830
Proceeds from long-term real estate liabilities	2,035
Principal payments on capital leases	(8,213)	(9,140)
Increase (decrease) in book overdrafts	11,677	(9,543)
Payments of financing fees for debtor-in-possession financing	(4,521)
Payments of financing fees for revolving line of credit		(2,995)
Deferred financing fees		(2,211)
Dividends paid on preferred stock		(10,500)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options		28
Net cash provided by financing activities	34	38,204
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(155,801)	(160,015)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	352,607	252,426
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	196,806	92,411
ADJUSTMENTS TO RECONCILE NET LOSS TO NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Depreciation and amortization	141,944	171,841
Goodwill, trademark and long-lived asset impairment	104,680	77,684
Impairment of long-lived assets in the normal course of business	5,132	1,144
Nonoperating income	(152)	(10,241)
Non-cash interest expense	10,104	27,658
Stock compensation expense	2,440	1,246
Pension withdrawal costs	13,923
Employee benefit related costs	1,561	13,728
Asset disposition initiatives relating to discontinued operations		(117)
Non-cash occupancy charges for locations closed in the normal course of business	1,800	7,024
Adjustment to occupancy reserves	92,775	52,357
Losses relating to Hurricane Irene	1,000
Gain from surrender of Company Owned Life Insurance Policies	(917)
Gain on disposal of owned property and write-down of property, net	(65)	(4,031)
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations		(79)
Gain on sale of pharmacy assets	(4,785)
Gain on sale of assets held for sale	(29,120)	(12,770)
Recognition of deferred real estate income	(2,599)	(3,434)
C&S contract effect	9,930
Benefit from deferred income taxes	(1,719)	(3,058)
Reorganization items, net relating to continuing operations	(84,516)
Reorganization items, net relating to discontinued operations	(34,209)
Financing fees	3,610
Total adjustments to net loss	$ 230,817	$ 318,952