Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013 segment		Dec. 29, 2012
Segment Information
Revenues	$ 129,061		$ 114,235
Operating income (loss)	4,579		(3,222)
Assets	44,979	[1]	41,804	[1]
Cash capital expenditures	501		818
Depreciation and amortization	1,369		1,221
Interest Expense	1,197		1,143
Interest Expense	(1,194)		(1,139)
Number of Reportable Segments	2
Selling, general and administrative expenses	29,295		31,460
Retail
Segment Information
Revenues	69,642		72,360
Operating income (loss)	(1,064)		(2,645)
Assets	17,682		18,476
Cash capital expenditures	11		228
Depreciation and amortization	191		226
Interest Expense	494		377
Recycling
Segment Information
Revenues	59,419		41,875
Operating income (loss)	6,270		(241)
Assets	23,290		18,658
Cash capital expenditures	354		332
Depreciation and amortization	815		609
Interest Expense	423		468
Unallocated corporate
Segment Information
Operating income (loss)	(627)		(336)
Assets	4,007		4,670
Cash capital expenditures	136		258
Depreciation and amortization	363		386
Interest Expense	280		298
Change in Estimate of Allocating Expenses
Segment Information
Selling, general and administrative expenses	569
Change in Estimate of Allocating Expenses | Retail
Segment Information
Selling, general and administrative expenses	142
Change in Estimate of Allocating Expenses | Recycling
Segment Information
Selling, general and administrative expenses	$ 427

[1] Assets of ARCA Advanced Processing, LLC (AAP), the consolidated variable interest entity (VIE), that can only be used to settle obligations of AAP were $9,949 and $10,045 as of December 28, 2013, and December 29, 2012, respectively. Liabilities of AAP for which creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. were $1,874 and $1,948 as of December 28, 2013, and December 29, 2012, respectively.