Business Segment Data (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Jan. 28, 2012

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

We manage our business as two segments: U.S. and Canada.  The following tables summarize net sales, results of operations, and total assets, by segment:

(in thousands)	2011									2010								2009
	U.S.			Canada			Total			U.S.			Canada		Total			U.S.			Canada		Total
Net sales	$	5,140,164		$	62,105		$	5,202,269		$	4,952,244		$	—	$	4,952,244		$	4,726,772		$	—	$	4,726,772
Depreciation expense	88,469			1,811			90,280			78,606			—		78,606			74,904			—		74,904
Operating profit (loss)	357,814			(12,219		)	345,595			357,345			—		357,345			325,010			—		325,010
Interest expense	(2,739		)	(791		)	(3,530		)	(2,573		)	—		(2,573		)	(1,840		)	—		(1,840		)
Other income (expense)	163			(336		)	(173		)	612			—		612			175			—		175
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	355,238			(13,346		)	341,892			355,384			—		355,384			323,345			—		323,345
Income tax expense	134,657			—			134,657			132,837			—		132,837			121,975			—		121,975
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$	220,581		$	(13,346	)	$	207,235		$	222,547		$	—	$	222,547		$	201,370		$	—	$	201,370
(in thousands)	January 28, 2012									January 29, 2011
	U.S.			Canada			Total			U.S.			Canada		Total
Total assets	$	1,586,035		$	55,275		$	1,641,310		$	1,619,599		$	—	$	1,619,599

Schedule of Net Sales by Category [Table Text Block]

The following table presents net sales data by segment and category:

(In thousands)		2011		2010		2009
U.S.
	Consumables	$	1,571,771	$	1,452,783	$	1,456,370
	Furniture	883,341		829,725		716,785
	Home	799,494		783,860		717,744
	Play n' Wear	776,445		811,750		806,247
	Seasonal	683,498		642,220		591,321
	Hardlines & Other	425,615		431,906		438,305
	Total U.S.	5,140,164		4,952,244		4,726,772
Canada		62,105		—		—
Net sales		$	5,202,269	$	4,952,244	$	4,726,772