-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ORh7+WD8UP/poTnkznYA3YLTF9eHE4QfOh7gAsXKZGyTub9sCxxerJUTa4oSTgTf
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000025354-07-000037.txt : 20070523
<SEC-HEADER>0000025354-07-000037.hdr.sgml : 20070523
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070523124747
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000025354-07-000037
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070410
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070523
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070523

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEYER DAVID M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001285100

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10204
		FILM NUMBER:		07873212

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		787 SEVENTH AVE.
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CPI CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000025354
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PERSONAL SERVICES [7200]
		IRS NUMBER:				431256674
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0206

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1706 WASHINGTON AVE
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63103-1790
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3142311575

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1706 WASHINGTON AVE
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63103
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-04-10</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2007-04-12</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000025354</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CPI CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CPY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001285100</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MEYER DAVID M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>787 SEVENTH AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>CPI Corp. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-04-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>693</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>44521</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>CPI Corp. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-04-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9239</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>53760</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>693 shares awarded under Company's Restricted Stock Plan pursuant to  Director's election to receive restricted stock in lieu of cash compensation for 2007 board retainer.  Shares granted vest in full on February 2, 2008.

9,239 shares awarded under Company's Restricted Stock Plan.  Shares granted vest in full on February 2, 2008.

Item 5 does not include 102,321 shares held indirectly through control of general partner of Knightspoint Partners I, L.P., the beneficial owner of CPI shares.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David M. Meyer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-05-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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