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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GTigHcaIM4HGfkJ4RNfWv8AOqyoVJWt0+UH7TV5MNHMv9BA+17V/C28pRIWc8vtp
 FmvoxdjcVyp0uTsc66OjvA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193939-10-000006.txt : 20100527
<SEC-HEADER>0001193939-10-000006.hdr.sgml : 20100527
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100527163332
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193939-10-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090526
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100527
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100527

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAUB CHRISTIAN W E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001193939

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04141
		FILM NUMBER:		10863041

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GREAT ATLANTIC & PACIFIC TEA CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000043300
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-GROCERY STORES [5411]
		IRS NUMBER:				131890974
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2 PARAGON DR
		CITY:			MONTVALE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07645
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2015739700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2 PARAGON DRIVE
		CITY:			MONTVALE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07645
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-05-26</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2009-05-28</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000043300</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GREAT ATLANTIC &amp; PACIFIC TEA CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GAP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193939</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAUB CHRISTIAN W E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2 PARAGON DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONTVALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07645</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.01</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>170731</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-05-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-05-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>170731</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>170731</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">In a Form 4 filed May 28, 2009, the reporting person reported that he was granted an employee stock option covering 157,303 shares of common stock, having an exercise price of $4.01 a share, and vesting in three equal installments beginning on May 26, 2010, 2011 and 2012.  It was recently determined that the number of shares of common stock covered by the award was calculated incorrectly given the approved value of the award, and resulted in an understatement of the number of shares of common stock covered by the award.  Accordingly, this amended Form 4 is being filed to reflect the correct number of shares covered by the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joan Roensch, Attorney-in-Fact for Christian W. E. Haub</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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