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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,
 DPauupnRW2mpQGV377BP41uwQWAViEqSnSd3OLWgFtYxvNH4tYeIANdFdAkVyvhL
 kZuF2oik9WtXcwncywWTTQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-045450.txt : 20040923
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-045450.hdr.sgml : 20040923
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040923181123
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-045450
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040921
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040923
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040923

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCLAUGHLIN ROBERT J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001204134

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08122
		FILM NUMBER:		041043642

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 1120
		CITY:			ROSS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94957

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRUBB & ELLIS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000216039
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE AGENTS & MANAGERS (FOR OTHERS) [6531]
		IRS NUMBER:				941424307
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2215 SANDERS RD
		STREET 2:		STE 400
		CITY:			NORTHBROOK
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60062
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4159561990

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MONTGOMERY ST STE 3100
		STREET 2:		TELESIS TWR 9TH FLR
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94104
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c88379-01rjm.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-21</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000216039</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GRUBB &amp; ELLIS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GBEL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001204134</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCLAUGHLIN ROBERT J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 1372</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROSS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94957</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.01</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-07-01</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-07-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-07-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options reported hereunder will vest and become exercisable in annual installments of thirty-three percent (33%) each on the first, second, and third anniversaries of the effective date of the grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The options reported hereunder will expire on the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the grant, or thirty (30) days after the termination of Mr. McLaughlin as director for any reason other than death.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Pursuant to the Grubb &amp; Ellis Company 1993 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors, each outside director is granted 10,000 non-qualified stock options upon election to the Board of Directors.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert J. McLaughlin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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