-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NfT3hxwHgRNmXKH/GtLq3bM5GiwwNifI211LQipwy44zOWW2xrApXhOqS8zDArsh
 cyDyjFuCmzmusqtEA6OULQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-001001.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-001001.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105182336
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-001001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SALMON WALTER J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001013938

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12814
		FILM NUMBER:		04506890

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NEIMAN MARCUS GROUP INC
		STREET 2:		1618 MAIN STREET
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2078852349

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NEIMAN MARCUS GROUP INC
		STREET 2:		1618 MAIN STREET
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75201
</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>0001013938</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>SALMON WALTER J</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>64 WINTER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>LINCOLN</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>NE</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>01773</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><v
alue>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></underlyingSecur
ityShares></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>Walter J. Salmon</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----