-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MeUeKa8GM9IyJVDuNnyU8X/pcPXIdFjjopwNe6rzcVB3OfVggc4mXNO7It5chBMX
 /QQ/6UnlMvN0qahkqiK2Ng==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000899681-09-000010.txt : 20090108
<SEC-HEADER>0000899681-09-000010.hdr.sgml : 20090108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090108173707
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000899681-09-000010
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090107
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090108
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WIDMANN ROGER M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208561

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31817
		FILM NUMBER:		09516532

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LYDALL INC
		STREET 2:		ONE COLONIAL RD.
		CITY:			MANCHESTER
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06045-151

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CEDAR SHOPPING CENTERS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000761648
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				421241468
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		44 SOUTH BAYLES AVENUE
		CITY:			PORT WASHINGTON
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11050
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5167676492

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		44 SOUTH BAYLES AVENUE
		CITY:			PORT WASHINGTON
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11050

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CEDAR INCOME FUND LTD /MD/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20001128

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNI INVEST USA LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000407

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CEDAR INCOME FUND LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-07</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000761648</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CEDAR SHOPPING CENTERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CDR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208561</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WIDMANN ROGER M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>540 MADISON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 21B</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5698</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.02</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19470</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Constitutes restricted stock issued under 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Roger M. Widmann</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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