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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 leL5IdEH4C7m8T1RV+zB6g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000813298-04-000002.txt : 20040123
<SEC-HEADER>0000813298-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040123094507
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000813298-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040121
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040123

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHOPER JESSE H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001217813

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15898
		FILM NUMBER:		04539273

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		UNIVERSITY OF CA LAW SCHOOL
		STREET 2:		BOALT HALL
		CITY:			BERKLEY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94720

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CASUAL MALE RETAIL GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000813298
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-FAMILY CLOTHING STORES [5651]
		IRS NUMBER:				042623104
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		555 TURNPIKE STREET
		CITY:			CANTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02021
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7818215900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		555 TURNPIKE STREET
		CITY:			CANTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02021

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DESIGNS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-21</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000813298</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CASUAL MALE RETAIL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cmrg</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217813</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHOPER JESSE H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></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, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>430</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.97</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>51118</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares issued in lieu of certain director's fees for participation in meetings of the Board of Directors and certain of its committees.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>The Reporting Person has previously reported grants of options to purchase an aggregate of 75,000 shares of the Issuer's common stock.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Arlene C. Feldman Attorney-in-Fact for   Jesse Choper</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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