CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 01, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013	Jun. 01, 2013	Mar. 02, 2013	Dec. 01, 2012	Sep. 01, 2012	Jun. 02, 2012	Mar. 01, 2014	Mar. 02, 2013	Mar. 03, 2012
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Revenues		$ 6,597,459	$ 6,357,732	$ 6,278,165	$ 6,293,057	$ 6,455,245	$ 6,237,847	$ 6,230,884	$ 6,468,287	$ 25,526,413	$ 25,392,263	$ 26,121,222
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold		4,711,743	4,557,066	4,461,804	4,472,066	4,407,482	4,426,526	4,520,463	4,719,516	18,202,679	18,073,987	19,327,887
Selling, general and administrative expenses		1,716,671	1,632,299	1,602,931	1,609,261	1,682,332	1,612,198	1,618,169	1,688,066	6,561,162	6,600,765	6,531,411
Lease termination and impairment charges		17,270	1,672	11,390	10,972	36,567	14,366	7,783	12,143	41,304	70,859	100,053
Interest expense		101,992	102,819	106,716	113,064	127,408	128,371	129,054	130,588	424,591	515,421	529,255
Loss on debt retirements, net			271	62,172		122,660			17,842	62,443	140,502	33,576
Gain on sale of assets, net		412	(9,331)	(1,885)	(5,180)	2,491	(6,262)	(2,954)	(10,051)	(15,984)	(16,776)	(8,703)
Total costs and expenses		6,548,088	6,284,796	6,243,128	6,200,183	6,378,940	6,175,199	6,272,515	6,558,104	25,276,195	25,384,758	26,513,479
Income (loss) before income taxes		49,371	72,936	35,037	92,874	76,305	62,648	(41,631)	(89,817)	250,218	7,505	(392,257)
Income tax expense (benefit)		(6,006)	1,388	2,210	3,212	(46,782)	777	(2,866)	(61,729)	804	(110,600)	(23,686)
Net income (loss)		55,377	71,548	32,827	89,662	123,087	61,871	(38,765)	(28,088)	249,414	118,105	(368,571)
Computation of income (loss) attributable to common stockholders:
Net income (loss)		55,377	71,548	32,827	89,662	123,087	61,871	(38,765)	(28,088)	249,414	118,105	(368,571)
Accretion of redeemable preferred stock										(77)	(102)	(102)
Cumulative preferred stock dividends										(8,318)	(10,528)	(9,919)
Conversion of Series G and H preferred stock	(25,603)									(25,603)
Income (loss) attributable to common stockholders-basic										215,416	107,475	(378,592)
Add back-interest on convertible notes										5,456
Income (loss) attributable to common stockholders-diluted										$ 220,872	$ 107,475	$ (378,592)
Basic income (loss) per share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.06	$ 0.05	$ 0.03	$ 0.10	$ 0.14	$ 0.07	$ (0.05)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.23	$ 0.12	$ (0.43)
Diluted income (loss) per share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.06	$ 0.04	$ 0.03	$ 0.09	$ 0.13	$ 0.07	$ (0.05)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.23	$ 0.12	$ (0.43)