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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001226497-03-000004.txt : 20030924
<SEC-HEADER>0001226497-03-000004.hdr.sgml : 20030924
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030924142734
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001226497-03-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030922
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030924

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEVOGEL WILLEM
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001226497

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10089
		FILM NUMBER:		03907689

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THREE CITIES RESEARCH INC
		STREET 2:		650 MADISON AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FACTORY 2 U STORES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000813775
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-FAMILY CLOTHING STORES [5651]
		IRS NUMBER:				510299573
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4000 RUFFIN ROAD
		STREET 2:		6TH FLR
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92123-1866

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4000 RUFFIN ROAD
		STREET 2:		6TH FLOOR
		CITY:			SAN DIEG
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92123-1866

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FAMILY BARGAIN CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940202

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DRS INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LONGWOOD GROUP LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920527
</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>2003-09-22</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000813775</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FACTORY 2 U STORES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FTUS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001226497</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEVOGEL WILLEM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THREE CITIES RESEARCH INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>650 MADISON AVE</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>2003-09-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13545</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19597</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13066</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.15</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Three Cities Fund II, L.P.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">As a limited partner in Three Cities Fund II, L.P., on September 22, 2003, Mr. de Vogel received a distribution of 13,071 shares of the issuer's common stock, which were valued at the closing market price on that date of $4.15 per share.

As a limited partner in TCR Friends Fund II L.P., on September 22, 2003, Mr. de Vogel received a distribution of 474 shares of the issuer's common stock, which were valued at the closing market price on that date of $4.15 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Mr. de Vogel is a general partner of TCR Associates L.P., which is the general partner of Three Cities Fund II, L.P.  On September 22, 2003, Three Cities Fund II, L.P. distributed to its limited partners 1,143,120 shares of the issuer's common stock, which were valued at the closing price on that date of $4.15 per share.  Mr. de Vogel had indirect ownership of 1.143%, or 13,066, of the 1,143,120 shares owned by Three Cities Fund II, L.P.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Susan M. Skrokov as Attorney-in-Fact for Willem de Vogel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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