Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Nov. 02, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Fiscal Period, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Fiscal Periods Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to January 31, which results in fiscal years consisting of 52 or 53 weeks. Unless otherwise stated, references to years in this report relate to fiscal years rather than calendar years. Fiscal year 2013 (“2013”) is comprised of the 52 weeks that began on February 3, 2013 and will end on February 1, 2014. Fiscal year 2012 (“2012”) was comprised of the 53 weeks that began on January 29, 2012 and ended on February 2, 2013. The fiscal quarters ended November 2, 2013 (“third quarter of 2013”) and October 27, 2012 (“third quarter of 2012”) were both comprised of 13 weeks. The year-to-date periods ended November 2, 2013 (“year-to-date 2013”) and October 27, 2012 (“year-to-date 2012”) were both comprised of 39 weeks.
Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Merchandise Inventories We assign cost to merchandise inventories using the average cost retail inventory method. Under our previous inventory management system which was used through the end of 2011, we calculated average cost at the department level which constituted approximately 50 inventory cost pools. On January 29, 2012, the first day of 2012, we completed the implementation of new inventory management systems, which has allowed us to more precisely determine our inventory cost under the retail method. Since the beginning of 2012, we have calculated average cost at the class level which constitutes approximately 350 inventory cost pools. As the impact of the accounting change on inventory for the first quarter of 2012 was immaterial, we recognized the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle as a current year expense by recording a reduction in inventory and a corresponding increase to cost of sales of approximately $5.6 million in the first quarter of 2012. This non-cash charge reduced the year-to-date 2012 income from continuing operations and net income by approximately $3.4 million and reduced the year-to-date 2012 basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations by $0.06.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Selling and Administrative Expenses Selling and administrative expenses include store expenses (such as payroll and occupancy costs) and costs related to warehousing, distribution, outbound transportation to our stores, advertising, purchasing, insurance, non-income taxes, and overhead. Our selling and administrative expense rates may not be comparable to those of other retailers that include distribution and outbound transportation costs in cost of sales. Distribution and outbound transportation costs included in selling and administrative expenses were $44.7 million and $41.9 million for the third quarter of 2013 and the third quarter of 2012, respectively, and $127.4 million and $123.2 million for the year-to-date 2013 and the year-to-date 2012, respectively.
Advertising Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Advertising Expense Advertising costs, which are expensed as incurred, consist primarily of television and print advertising, internet marketing and advertising, and in-store presentations. Advertising expenses are included in selling and administrative expenses. Advertising expenses were $18.5 million and $16.2 million for the third quarter of 2013 and the third quarter of 2012, respectively, and $61.8 million and $62.3 million for the year-to-date 2013 and the year-to-date 2012, respectively.
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]	Foreign Currency Translation The functional currency of our international subsidiary is the local currency of the country in which the subsidiary is located. We have one foreign subsidiary domiciled and operating in Canada. Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. Dollars using the exchange rate in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date. Results of operations and cash flows are translated using the average exchange rates throughout the period. The effect of exchange rate fluctuations on translation of assets and liabilities is included as a component of shareholders’ equity in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions, which are included in other income (expense), were a loss of $0.1 million and immaterial for the third quarter of 2013 and the third quarter of 2012, respectively, and a loss of $0.4 million and immaterial for the year-to-date 2013 and the year-to-date 2012, respectively.
Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Reclassifications In the fourth quarter of 2012, we realigned select merchandise categories in our U.S. segment to be consistent with the realignment of our merchandising team and changes to our management reporting. Prior to the fourth quarter of 2012, we reported sales of our toys, books and sporting goods departments in the Play n' Wear category. We moved the toys, books and sporting goods departments out of the Play n' Wear category and repositioned them in the Hardlines & Other category. We also moved the results of certain large closeout deals that are typically acquired through our alternate product sourcing operations out of the Hardlines & Other category and repositioned them in the Play n' Wear category. We subsequently changed the name of our Hardlines & Other category to Hardlines and Toys and changed the name of our Play n' Wear category to Electronics & Other. Our Consumables category was also separated into a Food category and a Consumables category. The Consumables category now contains our health and beauty care, housekeeping supplies, household chemicals, paper products, pet, and home organization departments, while the Food category contains our various food and beverage departments. Fiscal 2012 sales results have been reclassified to reflect this realignment.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recent Accounting Pronouncements There are currently no new accounting pronouncements with a future effective date that are of significance, or potential significance, to us.

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Nov. 02, 2013

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Fiscal Period, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fiscal Periods

Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to January 31, which results in fiscal years consisting of 52 or 53 weeks. Unless otherwise stated, references to years in this report relate to fiscal years rather than calendar years. Fiscal year 2013 (“2013”) is comprised of the 52 weeks that began on February 3, 2013 and will end on February 1, 2014. Fiscal year 2012 (“2012”) was comprised of the 53 weeks that began on January 29, 2012 and ended on February 2, 2013. The fiscal quarters ended November 2, 2013 (“third quarter of 2013”) and October 27, 2012 (“third quarter of 2012”) were both comprised of 13 weeks. The year-to-date periods ended November 2, 2013 (“year-to-date 2013”) and October 27, 2012 (“year-to-date 2012”) were both comprised of 39 weeks.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Merchandise Inventories

We assign cost to merchandise inventories using the average cost retail inventory method. Under our previous inventory management system which was used through the end of 2011, we calculated average cost at the department level which constituted approximately 50 inventory cost pools. On January 29, 2012, the first day of 2012, we completed the implementation of new inventory management systems, which has allowed us to more precisely determine our inventory cost under the retail method. Since the beginning of 2012, we have calculated average cost at the class level which constitutes approximately 350 inventory cost pools.

As the impact of the accounting change on inventory for the first quarter of 2012 was immaterial, we recognized the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle as a current year expense by recording a reduction in inventory and a corresponding increase to cost of sales of approximately $5.6 million in the first quarter of 2012. This non-cash charge reduced the year-to-date 2012 income from continuing operations and net income by approximately $3.4 million and reduced the year-to-date 2012 basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations by $0.06.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expenses include store expenses (such as payroll and occupancy costs) and costs related to warehousing, distribution, outbound transportation to our stores, advertising, purchasing, insurance, non-income taxes, and overhead. Our selling and administrative expense rates may not be comparable to those of other retailers that include distribution and outbound transportation costs in cost of sales. Distribution and outbound transportation costs included in selling and administrative expenses were $44.7 million and $41.9 million for the third quarter of 2013 and the third quarter of 2012, respectively, and $127.4 million and $123.2 million for the year-to-date 2013 and the year-to-date 2012, respectively.

Advertising Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Advertising Expense

Advertising costs, which are expensed as incurred, consist primarily of television and print advertising, internet marketing and advertising, and in-store presentations. Advertising expenses are included in selling and administrative expenses. Advertising expenses were $18.5 million and $16.2 million for the third quarter of 2013 and the third quarter of 2012, respectively, and $61.8 million and $62.3 million for the year-to-date 2013 and the year-to-date 2012, respectively.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of our international subsidiary is the local currency of the country in which the subsidiary is located. We have one foreign subsidiary domiciled and operating in Canada. Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. Dollars using the exchange rate in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date. Results of operations and cash flows are translated using the average exchange rates throughout the period. The effect of exchange rate fluctuations on translation of assets and liabilities is included as a component of shareholders’ equity in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions, which are included in other income (expense), were a loss of $0.1 million and immaterial for the third quarter of 2013 and the third quarter of 2012, respectively, and a loss of $0.4 million and immaterial for the year-to-date 2013 and the year-to-date 2012, respectively.

Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications

In the fourth quarter of 2012, we realigned select merchandise categories in our U.S. segment to be consistent with the realignment of our merchandising team and changes to our management reporting. Prior to the fourth quarter of 2012, we reported sales of our toys, books and sporting goods departments in the Play n' Wear category. We moved the toys, books and sporting goods departments out of the Play n' Wear category and repositioned them in the Hardlines & Other category. We also moved the results of certain large closeout deals that are typically acquired through our alternate product sourcing operations out of the Hardlines & Other category and repositioned them in the Play n' Wear category. We subsequently changed the name of our Hardlines & Other category to Hardlines and Toys and changed the name of our Play n' Wear category to Electronics & Other. Our Consumables category was also separated into a Food category and a Consumables category. The Consumables category now contains our health and beauty care, housekeeping supplies, household chemicals, paper products, pet, and home organization departments, while the Food category contains our various food and beverage departments. Fiscal 2012 sales results have been reclassified to reflect this realignment.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

There are currently no new accounting pronouncements with a future effective date that are of significance, or potential significance, to us.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for advertising costs. For those costs that cannot be capitalized, discloses whether such costs are expensed as incurred or the first period in which the advertising takes place. For direct response advertising costs that are capitalized, describes those assets and the accounting policy used, including a description of the qualifying activity, the types of costs capitalized and the related amortization period. An entity also may disclose its accounting policy for cooperative advertising arrangements.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for determining an entity's fiscal year or other fiscal period. This disclosure may include identification of the fiscal period end-date, the length of the fiscal period, any reporting period lag between the entity and its subsidiaries, or equity investees. If a reporting lag exists, the closing date of the entity having a different period end is generally noted, along with an explanation of the necessity for using different closing dates. Any intervening events that materially affect the entity's financial position or results of operations are generally also disclosed.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for (1) transactions denominated in a currency other than the reporting enterprise's functional currency, (2) translating foreign currency financial statements that are incorporated into the financial statements of the reporting enterprise by consolidation, combination, or the equity method of accounting, and (3) remeasurement of the financial statements of a foreign reporting enterprise in a hyperinflationary economy.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for major classes of inventories, bases of stating inventories (for example, lower of cost or market), methods by which amounts are added and removed from inventory classes (for example, FIFO, LIFO, or average cost), loss recognition on impairment of inventories, and situations in which inventories are stated above cost. If inventory is carried at cost, this disclosure includes the nature of the cost elements included in inventory.

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