Document and Entity Information[Abstract] Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] ASSETS ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents End of period Beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Merchandise inventories, net Merchandise inventories, net Merchandise inventories, net Other current assets Other current assets Total current assets Total current assets Property and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property and equipment, net Property and equipment, net Other assets, net Other assets, net Other Assets, Noncurrent, Total Total assets Total assets LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Accounts Payable Current Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current, Total Accrued compensation Accrued compensation Accrued compensation Lines Of Credit Current Revolving line of credit and term loan Accounts Payable, Other, Current Accrued store closure and lease exit costs Current portion of distribution center sale lease back obligations. Current Portion Of Distribution Center Sale Lease Back Obligations Current portion of distribution center sale-leaseback obligations Other current liabilities Other current liabilities Other Liabilities, Current, Total Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Long-term portion of revolving line of credit Revolving line of credit Capital lease obligations Capital lease obligations Long term distribution center sale leaseback obligations. Long Term Distribution Center Sale Leaseback Obligations Long-term distribution center sale-leaseback obligations Other long-term obligations Other long-term obligations Other Long-term Debt, Total CommitmentsAndContingencies2009 Commitments and contingencies Shareholders' equity: Shareholders' equity: Preferred stock, $.01 par value: 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Preferred stock, $.01 par value: 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Total Common stock, $.01 par value: 67,500,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding 22,087,113 for all periods presented Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common stock, $.01 par value: 67,500,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding 22,363,553; 22,087,113 and 22,087,113 shares Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Beginning Balance Additional paid-in capital Accumulated deficit Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Accumulated deficit Total shareholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance Total shareholders' equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Preferred stock, par value Preferred stock, par value Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred Stock, Shares Issued, Total Preferred stock, shares outstanding Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Beginning Balance Preferred stock, shares outstanding Common stock, par value Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance Common stock, shares outstanding Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract] Net sales Net sales Net sales Cost of sales and occupancy Cost Of Sales And Occupancy Cost of sales and occupancy Gross Profit Gross profit Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses Store closure costs Store closure costs/(income) Store preopening expenses Store preopening expenses Income Loss From Continuing Operations, Before Interest And Taxes Loss from continuing operations, before interest and taxes Loss from continuing operations, before interest and taxes Net interest expense Net interest expense Net interest expense Loss from continuing operations before income taxes Loss from continuing operations before income taxes Income tax expense/(benefit) Income tax (benefit)/expense Income tax expense/(benefit) Loss from continuing operations Net loss from continuing operations Income/(loss) from discontinued operations Loss from discontinued operations Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent, Total Net loss Net loss Earnings Per Share Continuing operations Abstract Earnings Per Share Continuing Operations Abstract Continuing operations Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share Basic Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Outstanding Share, Total Diluted Earnings Per Share Discontinued Operations Abstract Earnings Per Share Discontinued Operations Abstract Discontinued operations Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share Basic Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Outstanding Share, Total IncomeLossFromDiscontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Diluted Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share, Total Diluted Total Total Earnings Per Share Basic Basic Basic Earnings Per Share Diluted Diluted Diluted Weighted average shares outstanding Weighted-average shares outstanding: Basic Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic, Total WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted, Total Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash Flows From Operating Activities: Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization Share-based compensation expense Share-based compensation expense Share-based compensation expense Loss on asset disposal Loss on asset disposal Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets, Total Changes in assets and liabilities: Changes in assets and liabilities: Merchandise inventories Merchandise inventories Merchandise inventories Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Income taxes Other assets Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets, Total Accounts payable Accounts payable Accounts payable Accounts payable Other liabilities Other liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities, Total Net cash used in operating activities Net cash used in operating activities Cash Flows From Investing Activities: Cash Flows From Investing Activities: Purchases of property and equipment Purchases of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Proceeds from sale of property and equipment Proceeds from sale of property and equipment Proceeds from sale of property and equipment Net cash used in investing activities Net cash used in investing activities Net cash used in investing activities Net cash used in investing activities Cash Flows From Financing Activities: Cash Flows From Financing Activities: Borrowings under revolving line of credit Borrowings under revolving line of credit Proceeds from Lines of Credit, Total Payments under revolving line of credit Payments under revolving line of credit Principal payments on long term distribution center sale leaseback obligations. Principal Payments On Long Term Distribution Center Sale Leaseback Obligations Principal payments on long-term distribution center sale-leaseback obligations Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Debt issuance costs Debt issuance costs Principal payments on capital lease obligations Principal payments on capital lease obligations Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Proceeds from the issuance of common stock Net cash provided by financing activities Net cash provided by financing activities Net cash provided by financing activities Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and Cash Equivalents: Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information: Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information: Cash paid for interest Cash paid for interest Interest Paid, Total Cash (received)/paid for income taxes, net Cash paid/(received) for income taxes, net Income Taxes Paid, Net, Total A text block element to show Cost Plus' basis of presentation. Basis Of Presentation [Abstract] Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Disclosure Text Block Basis Of Presentation Accrued Store Closure and Lease Exit Costs [Abstract] Accrued Store Closure And Lease Exit Costs [Abstract] Disclosure that describes balance sheet liability for both continuing operations and discontinued operations stores. Continuing and Discontinued Store Closure Activities Text Block Accrued Store Closure And Lease Exit Costs Discontinued Operations [Abstract] Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations Disclosure Text Block Discontinued Operations Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations Disclosure Text Block Share-Based Compensation [Abstract] Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Text Block Share-Based Compensation Reconciliation Of Basic Shares To Diluted Shares [Abstract] Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Reconciliation Of Basic Shares To Diluted Shares Revolving Line Of Credit [Abstract] Debt Disclosure Text Block Revolving Line Of Credit Distribution Center Sale-Leaseback Obligations [Abstract] Distribution center sale-leaseback obligations [Text Block] Distribution Center Sale-Leaseback Obligations [Text Block] Distribution Center Sale-Leaseback Obligations Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Tax Disclosure Text Block Income Taxes