-----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,
 LTjjrxqPPxgWXNXNE6LR1/1NJ5EDC8IHRiOgMomxXmyKYnWiFT1bb3JfUuTBJ5/H
 CpJUIM3/+9C8ss6ldmkeiw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-09-002343.txt : 20090108
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-09-002343.hdr.sgml : 20090108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090108110041
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-09-002343
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090106
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090108
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Thompson Anthony W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001304188

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08122
		FILM NUMBER:		09514907

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		714-667-8252, X207

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THOMPSON FAMILY OFFICE
		STREET 2:		1901 MAIN STREET, SUITE 108
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92614

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:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 WEST MONROE STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2800
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60661
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3126986700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 WEST MONROE STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2800
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60661
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001304188</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Thompson Anthony W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THOMPSON FAMILY OFFICE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1901 MAIN STREET, SUITE #108</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>IRVINE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92614</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8313043</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>32299</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.2129</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>AWT Family L.P.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Of these shares, 5,271,103 shares are held in a brokerage account by Mr. Thompson and his spouse, Sharon Thompson, as joint tenants with a right of survivorship.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares are owned of record by AWT Family L.P., of which Mr. Thompson and his spouse are the sole limited partners and the corporate general partner is controlled by Mr. Thompson.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Anthony W. Thompson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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