Property and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010
Property and equipment
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 759,869,000	$ 677,935,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	410,984,000	364,079,000
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	348,885,000	313,856,000
Charges related to asset impairments	7,800,000	5,300,000	4,700,000
Land and land improvements
Property and equipment
Property, plant and equipment, gross	2,866,000	2,866,000
Building and building improvements
Property and equipment
Property, plant and equipment, gross	3,657,000	3,381,000
Leasehold improvements
Property and equipment
Property, plant and equipment, gross	382,098,000	336,672,000
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
Property and equipment
Property, plant and equipment, gross	330,517,000	291,787,000
Construction in progress
Property and equipment
Property, plant and equipment, gross	18,257,000	20,094,000
Properties under capital lease
Property and equipment
Property, plant and equipment, gross	22,474,000	23,135,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	$ 4,400,000	$ 3,800,000