<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001222503-04-000024
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20041103
<FILING-DATE>20041105
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20041105
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>FLAKS RICHARD
<CIK>0001256948
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-23071
<FILM-NUMBER>041123299
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>915 SECAUCUS RD.
<CITY>SECAUCUS
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>07094
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>915 SECAUCUS RD
<CITY>SECAUCUS
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>07094
<PHONE>2015582400
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>915 SECAUCUS RD
<CITY>SECAUCUS
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>07094
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-03</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001256948</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FLAKS RICHARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>915 SECAUCUS ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SECAUCUS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07094</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Planning &amp; Allocation</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.20</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.20</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-09-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-11-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>75000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Exercisable cumulatively at the rate of 20% on September 18, 2005 and 20% each year thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Consists of 9,000 employee stock options currently exercisable and 66,000 employee stock options exercisable over the next 5 years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard Flaks</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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