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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 E3R0BQ6ivxdnRPX5Esw0hsOcD7Kvh+JD7yrg+14HvP2wf12K5fXJW+r/jFNJN2uj
 NuTYks9CnXeYEi8kmC7S8Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001222503-04-000015.txt : 20040831
<SEC-HEADER>0001222503-04-000015.hdr.sgml : 20040831
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040831182804
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001222503-04-000015
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040827
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040831
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040831

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SILVERSTEIN STANLEY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001055164

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23071
		FILM NUMBER:		041009480

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CHILDRENS PLACE RETAIL STORES INC
		STREET 2:		ONE DODGE DRIVE
		CITY:			WEST CALDWELL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07006
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9732278900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 2:		ONE DODGE DR
		CITY:			WEST CALDWELL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07006

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:		915 SECAUCUS RD
		CITY:			SECAUCUS
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07094
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2015582400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		915 SECAUCUS RD
		CITY:			SECAUCUS
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07094
</SEC-HEADER>
<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>2004-08-27</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001055164</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SILVERSTEIN STANLEY</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>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>20.52</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>21000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.52</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-01-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>21000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Exercisable 33 1/3% on February 1, 2005 and 33 1/3 each year thareafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Consists of 21,000 stock options exercisable over the next 3 years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stanley Silverstein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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