Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2011	Sep. 28, 2010	Sep. 27, 2011	Sep. 28, 2010	Dec. 28, 2010
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 453,087	$ 371,994	$ 1,326,267	$ 1,114,328
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	96,229	76,249	296,188	245,981
Depreciation and amortization	20,068	16,300	58,869	50,224
General and Administrative Expense	28,844	24,297	80,516	73,414
Pre-opening expenses	1,283	1,211	3,816	2,367
Interest expense	194	165	616	498
Other (income) expense, net	837	(540)	(143)	2,776
Income before income taxes	46,576	36,371	157,240	120,985
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures	20,953	25,504	67,935	49,297
Segment Assets
Trade accounts receivable, net	25,026		25,026		20,378
Property and equipment, net	471,867		471,867		444,094
Deposits and other	7,274		7,274		6,958
Total assets	954,541		954,541		924,581
Company bakery cafe operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	397,271	315,231	1,157,375	950,155
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	71,269	51,313	217,954	169,000
Depreciation and amortization	17,195	13,420	50,342	41,525
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures	17,936	20,212	59,719	38,978
Segment Assets
Total assets	652,193		652,193		581,193
Franchise operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	22,677	21,521	68,281	64,025
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	21,104	19,966	63,555	59,742
Segment Assets
Total assets	7,794		7,794		6,679
Fresh dough and other product operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	68,064	64,181	201,765	184,732
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	3,856	4,970	14,679	17,239
Depreciation and amortization	1,690	1,855	5,141	5,686
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures	1,106	2,800	3,454	4,299
Segment Assets
Total assets	45,616		45,616		48,393
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Assets
Total assets	705,603		705,603		636,265
Intercompany sales eliminations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	(34,925)	(28,939)	(101,154)	(84,584)
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Segment profit:
Depreciation and amortization	1,183	1,025	3,386	3,013
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures	1,911	2,492	4,762	6,020
Unallocated Amount to Segment [Member]
Segment profit:
General and Administrative Expense	27,271	22,742	75,790	69,131
Segment Assets
Trade accounts receivable, net	3,583		3,583		9,409
Property and equipment, net	22,102		22,102		19,798
Deposits and other	4,309		4,309		4,549
Total other assets	$ 218,944		$ 218,944		$ 254,560