<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-12-07</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2007-12-12</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000216039</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GRUBB &amp; ELLIS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GBE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001304188</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Thompson Anthony W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THOMPSON FAMILY OFFICE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1901 MAIN STREET, SUITE #108</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>IRVINE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92614</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7301502</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1570306</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>AWT Family L.P. and NNN Cunningham Stafford, LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Received in exchange for 8,297,161 shares of NNN Realty Advisors, Inc. common stock in connection with the merger of NNN Realty Advisors, Inc. into Grubb &amp; Ellis Company (the &quot;Merger&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Of these shares, 4,591,772 shares are held in a brokerage account by Mr. Thompson and his spouse, Sharon Thompson, as joint tenants with a right of survivorship.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Received in exchange for 1,784,439 shares of NNN Realty Advisors, Inc. common stock in connection with the Merger.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Of these shares, 784,175 shares are owned of record by the AWT Family L.P., of which Mr. Thompson and his spouse are the sole limited partners and the corporate general partner is controlled by Mr. Thompson, and 786,131 shares are owned of record by NNN Cunningham Stafford, LLC, of which Mr. Thompson is the sole member.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Anthony W. Thompson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
