Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 30, 2014 Store	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 25, 2012	Aug. 27, 2011
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of stores	5,391
Number of stores with commercial sales program	3,845
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 124,485,000	$ 142,191,000	$ 103,093,000	$ 97,606,000
Allowances for uncollectible accounts	2,900,000	2,900,000
Unrecorded adjustment for LIFO value in excess of replacement value	307,200,000	283,700,000
Impairment loss of long lived assets	0
Cumulative loss on currency translation recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss	57,800,000	62,500,000
Deferred rent	104,600,000	96,500,000
Measure of income tax benefit for uncertain income tax positions	More than 50%
Advertising expense, net of vendor promotional funds	84,700,000	83,700,000	74,700,000
Vendor promotional funds, which reduced advertising expense	28,400,000	24,400,000	19,700,000
Limited warranty period, minimum period (Days)	30 days
Products accounted for total revenues	One class of similar products accounted for approximately 10 percent of the Company's total revenues, No other class of similar products accounted for 10 percent or more of total revenues
Products accounted for total purchases	One vendor supplied more than 10 percent of the Company's total purchases. No other individual vendor provided more than 10 percent of total purchases.
Minimum [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets	3 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	1,000	8,600	30,000
Cost of Goods, Total [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	10.00%
Sales [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	10.00%
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	43,900,000	39,800,000
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	1
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
Foreign Countries [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 19,300,000	$ 38,200,000
Stores in the United States Including Puerto Rico [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of stores	4,984
Brazil [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of stores	5
Mexico [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of stores	402