Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2013 Store	Aug. 25, 2012	Aug. 27, 2011	Aug. 28, 2010
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of domestic stores in United States and Puerto Rico	4,836
Number of stores	5,201
Number of stores with commercial sales program	3,421
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 142,191,000	$ 103,093,000	$ 97,606,000	$ 98,280,000
Allowances for uncollectible accounts	2,900,000	2,400,000
Unrecorded adjustment for LIFO value in excess of replacement value	283,700,000	270,400,000
Impairment loss of long lived assets	0
Cumulative loss on currency translation recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss	62,500,000	50,300,000
Deferred rent	96,500,000	86,900,000
Measure of income tax benefit for uncertain income tax positions	More than 50%
Advertising expense, net of vendor promotional funds	83,700,000	74,700,000	71,500,000
Vendor promotional funds, which reduced advertising expense	24,400,000	19,700,000	23,200,000
Limited warranty period, minimum period (Days)	30 days
Products accounted for total revenues	One class of similar products accounted for 10 percent of the Company's total revenues
Products accounted for total purchases	No vendor supplied more than 10 percent of the Company's total purchases
Minimum [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets	5 years
Maximum [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets	10 years
Stock Options [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from the computation of earnings per share	8,600	30,000	0
Product Concentration Risk [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of class of similar products accounted for 10% of company's total revenue	1
Supplier Concentration Risk [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of class of similar products accounted for 10% of company's total revenue	0
Cash Equivalents [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Maturity period of investments	90 days or less
Settlement term of credit and debit card transaction	Less than 5 days
Credit and debit card receivables included within cash and cash equivalents	39,800,000	34,000,000
Buildings [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	40 years
Buildings [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	50 years
Building Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Building Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	15 years
Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	3 years
Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	10 years
Brazil [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of stores	3
Mexico [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of stores	362
Foreign Countries [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 38,200,000	$ 7,800,000