Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details)

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)
 0 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
May 29, 2012
May 26, 2010
May 01, 2010
Feb. 02, 2013
inventory_pool
Jan. 28, 2012
Jan. 29, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]            
Fixed price of merchandise       $ 1.00    
Discount variety retail stores owned and operated       4,671    
Common stock dividend (in hundredths) 100.00%          
Stock split conversion ratio 2 1.5        
Money market securities valued at cost, in Cash and cash equivalents       344,500,000 249,300,000  
Debt instruments with original maturities in months, considered cash equivalents, range maximum (in months)       3 months    
Settlement of debit card and credit card transaction process business days, range maximum (in business days)       3 days    
Inventory pools used through Fiscal 2009       1    
Fiscal year 2010 inventory pools in its retail inventory calculation       30    
Non-cash beginning inventory adjustment     26,300,000 0 0 26,300,000
Warehousing and distribution costs capitalized into inventory       38,800,000 34,500,000  
Software amortization period (in years)       3 years    
Restricted investments       94,600,000 83,600,000  
Impairment charge for certain store assets       500,000 900,000 1,100,000
Cash and cash equivalents fair value       399,900,000    
Restricted investments fair value       94,600,000    
Fair value of diesel fuel swap       500,000    
Assets, Fair Value Adjustment       500,000    
Advertising costs       13,500,000 13,800,000 11,100,000
Stock-based compensation expense       $ 34,900,000 $ 31,000,000 $ 27,900,000
Buildings [Member] | Minimum [Member]
            
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]            
Useful life (in years)       39 years    
Buildings [Member] | Maximum [Member]
            
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]            
Useful life (in years)       40 years    
Furniture, fixtures and equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
            
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]            
Useful life (in years)       3 years    
Furniture, fixtures and equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
            
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]            
Useful life (in years)       15 years