-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CAoDl2r9KD0lfpgDI4K/C+b7aZ/nhDC9UNav9XhwydlWsEs23mRckDe8VY3R/SDM
 NGsYw79lNBMONdmsFuI6eg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000790414-08-000001.txt : 20080114
<SEC-HEADER>0000790414-08-000001.hdr.sgml : 20080114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080114170456
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000790414-08-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080114
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080114
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080114

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:			SCHLEIN PHILIP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001232560

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09100
		FILM NUMBER:		08529112

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		QRS CORP
		STREET 2:		1400 MARINA WAY SOUTH
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94804
</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>2008-01-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232560</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHLEIN PHILIP</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.3497</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Philip Schlein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----