-----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,
 WvcgIzNBVl8ukgZaAwjANxuwvPT1aNrfCz2Rpc98aRQbhX7eGQoafXWzx1ed+bsf
 OID1zUKePjPwMKuORTn1iQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000790414-05-000017.txt : 20050504
<SEC-HEADER>0000790414-05-000017.hdr.sgml : 20050504
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050504151034
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000790414-05-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050503
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050504
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050504

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GOTTSCHALKS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000790414
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-DEPARTMENT STORES [5311]
		IRS NUMBER:				770159791
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7 RIVER PARK PL E
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 28920
		CITY:			FRESNO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93720
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2094348000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7 RIVER PARK PLACE EAST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 28920
		CITY:			FRESNO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93720

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GUTMANN MAX
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189290

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09100
		FILM NUMBER:		05798728

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5594344789

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GOTTSCHALKS INC
		STREET 2:		7 RIVER PARK PLACE EAST
		CITY:			FRESNO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93720
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000790414</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GOTTSCHALKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>got</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189290</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GUTMANN MAX</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GOTTSCHALKS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7 RIVER PARK PLACE EAST</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FRESNO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93720</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Retired Board of Director</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7600</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr. Gutmann retired from the Board of Director's effective May 1, 2005.  Transaction represents a cashless exercise of Mr. Gutmann's stock options. Shares were sold at prices ranging from $10.77 to $10.79.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">7,600 Shares of unexercised Stock Options remaining.  Mr. Gutmann also holds 24,000 shares of outstanding common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Max Gutmann</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----