-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OtHMvo27blDUk1DrQQFPJwm+KL+25TmrDj2lwpBhpvByKmn4POsCXUpxdJ0o//67
 EJYLf5EXUAyrZ0APPc/akw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001222503-03-000028.txt : 20031209
<SEC-HEADER>0001222503-03-000028.hdr.sgml : 20031209
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031209180023
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001222503-03-000028
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031205
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031209

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FLAKS RICHARD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001256948

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23071
		FILM NUMBER:		031045639

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		915 SECAUCUS RD.
		CITY:			SECAUCUS
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07094

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-05</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>25.625</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>25000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>25.625</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-09-18</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-05</value></expirationDate
><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>25000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>55000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Exercisable cumulatively at the rate of 20% on September 18, 2004 and 20% each year thereafter.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Consists of 0 employee stock options currently exercisable and 55,000 employee stock options exercisable over the next 5 years.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Richard Flaks</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-09</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----