-----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,
 RczMEjrXdr1dtxl7o3V4NJTZRLmc35eAIWXd/Ou/gFKBCLAM2tQpsFG+OHT/ogI7
 BRntvN/5BabMa5nvVqWc3w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001226497-03-000005.txt : 20031118
<SEC-HEADER>0001226497-03-000005.hdr.sgml : 20031118
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031118133540
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001226497-03-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031117
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031118

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:		031010055

	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>2003-11-17</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>2003-11-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19847</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr. de Vogel received a grant of 250 shares of common stock for serving on the Board of Directors.  The closing market price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant was $2.59 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Susan M. Skrokov as Attorney-in-Fact for Willem de Vogel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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