-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VdC+a7gM1fJUXbUq0iShvO3VSr3PhshbS+iiNsueT7zikhS9996KelhEFH2IK82V
 dsQ0w16YVuqk9CcJQ5vUUA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001222503-04-000019.txt : 20041001
<SEC-HEADER>0001222503-04-000019.hdr.sgml : 20041001
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041001174320
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001222503-04-000019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040929
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041001
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041001

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DABAH EZRA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001055163

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23071
		FILM NUMBER:		041059747

	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>2004-09-29</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001055163</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DABAH EZRA</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>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, Par Value $.10</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.61</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5787070</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes (i) 3,392,960 shares held by trusts or custodial accounts for the benefit of Mr. Dabah's children and certain other family members, of which Mr. Dabah or his wife is a trustee or custodian and as to which Mr. Dabah or his wife, as the case may be, has voting control, and as to which shares Mr. Dabah disclaims beneficial ownership; (ii) 2,256,850 shares held in Mr. Dabah's own name; (iii) 37,600 shares held by Mr. Dabah's wife; and (iv) 99,660 shares subject to options which are currently exercisable.  Does not include (i) 496,000 shares directly owned by Stanley Silverstein, Mr. Dabah's father-in-law; (ii) 7,000 shares held by Mr. Silverstein's profit sharing account; and (iii) 111,000 shares directly owned by Raine Silverstein, Mr. Dabah's mother-in-law.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ezra Dabah</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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