Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2011	Sep. 29, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Operating activities
Net earnings	$ 33,964	$ 29,421	$ 6,029
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows (excluding investment operations of consolidated affiliated partnerships):
Depreciation and amortization	28,361	29,258	31,369
Provision for deferred income taxes	(2,186)	207	6,457
Asset impairments and provision for restaurant closings	1,032	353	2,645
Stock-based compensation and other non-cash expenses	950	1,735	2,881
Loss on disposal of assets	702	126	151
Gain on sale of subsidiary	(1,559)	0	0
Realized investment gains/losses	(7,360)	(3,802)	(9)
Derivative and short sale gains/losses	(610)	(222)	0
Changes in receivables and inventories	2,066	3,951	8,481
Changes in other assets	(202)	(123)	(1,724)
Changes in accounts payable and accrued expenses	12,918	8,834	(3,980)
Investment operations of consolidated affiliated partnerships:
Purchases of investments	(53,727)	(24,771)	0
Sales of investments	52,271	25,117	0
Realized investment gains, net	(3,365)	(831)	0
Unrealized (gains) losses on marketable securities held by consolidated affiliated partnerships	230	(1,006)	0
Changes in cash equivalents held by consolidated affiliated partnerships	7,870	371	0
Changes in due to/from broker	222	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	71,577	68,618	52,300
Investing activities
Additions of property and equipment	(13,018)	(8,650)	(5,751)
Proceeds from property and equipment disposals	2,007	1,885	13,517
Proceeds from sale of joint venture	0	457	0
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary, net of cash on hand	196	0	0
Purchases of investments	(171,893)	(73,228)	(3,047)
Sales of investments	90,058	47,112	239
Changes in due to/from broker	3,147	3,903	0
Cash from merger activities	0	(2,903)	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(89,503)	(31,424)	4,958
Financing activities
Proceeds from revolving credit facility	194,045	500	12,240
Payments on revolving credit facility	(197,045)	(1,000)	(7,920)
Borrowings on long-term debt	111,959	0	0
Principal payments on long-term debt	(17,333)	(80)	(16,448)
Proceeds from property sale-leasebacks	0	0	3,597
Principal payments on direct financing lease obligations	(7,469)	(4,570)	(5,008)
Proceeds and tax benefits from exercise of stock options and employees stock purchase plan	29	345	857
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards	3	0	40
Cash paid in lieu of fractional shares	0	(711)	0
Repurchase of employee shares for tax withholding	(541)	(257)	(203)
Proceeds from noncontrolling interest	0	0	150
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	0	(221)	(23)
Financing activities of consolidated affiliated partnerships:
Purchase of shares of Company stock by consolidated affiliated partnerships		38,411
Proceeds from sale of shares of Company stock by consolidated affiliated partnerships		2,651
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	1,780	1,878	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(16,078)	(1,150)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	69,350	(41,026)	(12,718)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	51,424	(3,832)	44,540
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	47,563	51,395	6,855
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 98,987	$ 47,563	$ 51,395