-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Aesq+aorXrWcqVLmtb7f1oplNefYy8p6p1frC8nVBUO8Xe6yF/e4n65ttKR7ezm5
 YFBB9+8lKKvnnlFMwR6SIA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-027177.txt : 20031120
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-027177.hdr.sgml : 20031120
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031120160148
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-027177
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031118
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031120

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHILDRENS PLACE RETAIL STORES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001041859
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-FAMILY CLOTHING STORES [5651]
		IRS NUMBER:				311241495
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE DODGE DR
		CITY:			CALDWELL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07006
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9732278900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE DODGE DR
		CITY:			CALDWELL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07006

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SK EQUITY FUND L P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001009319
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23071
		FILM NUMBER:		031015642

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO GREENWICH PLAZA
		STREET 2:		STE 100
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2123036638

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		667 MADISON AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-11-18</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001041859</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHILDRENS PLACE RETAIL STORES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PLCE</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001009319</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SK EQUITY FUND L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>262 HARBOR DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06902</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>0</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-11-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>1918531</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>27.11</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>4689737</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ David J. Oddi</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-11-20</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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