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<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031029
<FILING-DATE>20031031
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>WIDMANN ROGER M
<CIK>0001208561
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
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<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-31817
<FILM-NUMBER>03968391
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>LYDALL INC
<STREET2>ONE COLONIAL RD.
<CITY>MANCHESTER
<STATE>CT
<ZIP>06045-151
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CEDAR SHOPPING CENTERS INC
<CIK>0000761648
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6798
<IRS-NUMBER>421241468
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>MD
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>44 SOUTH BAYLES AVENUE
<CITY>PORT WASHINGTON
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>11050
<PHONE>5167676492
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>44 SOUTH BAYLES AVENUE
<CITY>PORT WASHINGTON
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>11050
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>CEDAR INCOME FUND LTD /MD/
<DATE-CHANGED>20001128
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>UNI INVEST USA LTD
<DATE-CHANGED>20000407
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>CEDAR INCOME FUND LTD
<DATE-CHANGED>19920703
</FORMER-COMPANY>
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<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-29</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000761648</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CEDAR SHOPPING CENTERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CDR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208561</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WIDMANN ROGER M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>650 THIRD AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Roger M. Widmann</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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