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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JRrgql8attYGGYwCK8m8DE/ruqtco6auZAo2FXu+mG0G0u2SPCPYsCsqzz9TTdU+
 7rdr52SGCopSrmXWFMQ1sg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-000996.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-000996.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105182132
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-000996
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RATNER CHARLES A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001217463

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12814
		FILM NUMBER:		04506876

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 PUBLIC SQUARE SUITE 1100
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44113

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COLE NATIONAL CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000769644
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-RETAIL STORES, NEC [5990]
		IRS NUMBER:				341453189
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1925 ENTERPRISE PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		N/A
		CITY:			TWINSBURG
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44087
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3304863100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1925 ENTERPISE PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		N/A
		CITY:			TWINSBURG
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44087

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CNC HOLDING CORP/DE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-01</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000769644</issuerCik><issuerName>COLE NATIONAL CORP /DE/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNJ</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001217463</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>RATNER CHARLES A</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>16980 SOUTH PARK BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>SHAKER HEIGHTS</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>44120</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><se
curityTitle><value>Director Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>19.9650</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-01</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1571.0000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2005-01-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2014-01-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1571.0000</value></u
nderlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1571.0000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Reflects the automatic award of options under the Amended and Restated Nonqualified Stock Option Plan for Nonemployee Directors, which was approved by shareholders in 1997.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Charles A. Ratner</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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