-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 oKwyctMWiSGteFGvSenoiw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001229233-10-000003.txt : 20100527
<SEC-HEADER>0001229233-10-000003.hdr.sgml : 20100527
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100527165656
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001229233-10-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100208
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100527
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100527

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARSHALL RON
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001229233

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04141
		FILM NUMBER:		10863335

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BORDERS GROUP, INC.
		STREET 2:		100 PHOENIX DRIVE
		CITY:			ANN ARBOR
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48108

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>2010-02-08</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2010-02-10</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001229233</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARSHALL RON</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2 PARAGON DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONTVALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07645</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.41</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>220264</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.41</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-02-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-02-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>220264</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>220264</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 February 10, 2010, the reporting person reported that he was granted an employee stock option covering 164,203 shares of common stock, calculated at a price of $6.09 a share, and vesting in three equal installments beginning on February 8, 2011, 2012 and 2013.  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.  Accordingly, this amended Form 4 is being filed to reflect the correct number of shares covered by the award which is 220,264 at an exercise price of $7.41.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joan Roensch, Attorney-in-Fact for Ron Marshall</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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