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 $)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 28, 2012
Jan. 29, 2011
Jan. 30, 2010
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Discount variety retail stores owned and operated 4,351    
Fixed price of merchandise $ 1.00    
Common stock dividend (in hundredths) 50.00%    
Money market securities valued at cost, in Cash and cash equivalents 249,300,000 271,400,000  
Debt instruments with original maturities in months, considered cash equivalents, range maximum (in months) 3    
Settlement of debit card and credit card transaction process business days, range maximum (in business days) 3    
Short-term investments   174,800,000  
Inventory pools used through Fiscal 2009 1    
Fiscal year 2010 inventory pools in its retail inventory calculation 30    
Non-cash beginning inventory adjustment 0 26,300,000 0
Warehousing and distribution costs capitalized into inventory 34,500,000 30,800,000  
Software amortization period (in years) 3    
Restricted investments 83,600,000 72,100,000  
Long-lived assets write-down 900,000 1,100,000 1,300,000
Cash and cash equivalents fair value 288,300,000    
Restricted investments fair value 83,600,000    
Fair value of diesel fuel swap 600,000    
Impairment charge for certain store assets 900,000 1,100,000 1,300,000
Advertising costs 13,800,000 11,100,000 8,300,000
Stock-based compensation expense $ 31,000,000 $ 27,900,000 $ 21,700,000
Buildings [Member]
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Minimum useful life (in years) 39    
Maximum useful life (in years) 40    
Furniture, Fixtures And Equipment [Member]
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Minimum useful life (in years) 3    
Maximum useful life (in years) 15