<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001144204-04-001517
<TYPE>5
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040131
<FILING-DATE>20040213
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CHILDRENS PLACE RETAIL STORES INC
<CIK>0001041859
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5651
<IRS-NUMBER>311241495
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0131
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ONE DODGE DR
<CITY>CALDWELL
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>07006
<PHONE>9732278900
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ONE DODGE DR
<CITY>CALDWELL
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>07006
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DABAH EZRA
<CIK>0001055163
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>5
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-23071
<FILM-NUMBER>04601375
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>CHILDRENS PLACE RETAIL STORES INC
<STREET2>ONE DODGE DRIVE
<CITY>WEST CALDWELL
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>07006
<PHONE>9732278900
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET2>ONE DODGE DR
<CITY>WEST CALDWELL
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>07006
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>v01627_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001041859</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHILDRENS PLACE RETAIL STORES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PLCE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001055163</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DABAH EZRA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>915 SECAUCUS ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SECAUCUS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07094</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-05-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.26</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6012070</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">(1) Includes (i) 3,392,960 shares held by trusts or custodial accounts for the benefit of Mr. Dabah's children and certain other family members, of which Mr. Dabah or his wife is a trustee or custodian and as to which Mr. Dabah or his wife, as the case may be, has voting control, and as to which shares Mr. Dabah disclaims beneficial ownership, (ii) 2,481,850 held in Mr. Dabah's own name; (iii) 37,600 shares held by Mr. Dabah's wife, and (iv) 99,660 shares subject to options which are currently exercisable.  Does not include (i) 496,000 shares directly owned by Stanley Silverstein, Mr. Dabah's father-in-law, (ii) 7,000 shares held in Mr. Silverstein's profit sharing account, and (iii) 111,000 shares directly owned by Raine Silverstein, Mr. Dabah's mother-in-law.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ezra Dabah</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
