<?xml version="1.0"?>
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    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

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    <periodOfReport>2008-06-24</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000104599</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CIRCUIT CITY STORES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
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            <rptOwnerCik>0001073305</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KING ALLEN B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9950 MAYLAND DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RICHMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23233</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
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                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
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                <value>2008-06-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <expirationDate>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units (2008 Award)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>29851</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>29851</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>29851</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This award represents non-employee director's equity-based compensation for the 2009 fiscal year and has a fair market value on the date of grant of $100,000.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">1 for 1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">One hundred percent (100%) of the restricted stock units granted on June 26, 2007 have vested.   These shares cannot be sold while serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Circuit City Stores, Inc.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">One-hundred percent (100%) of the Units paid as a dividend in connection with the restricted stock units granted on 6/26/2007 have vested.  These shares cannot be sold while serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Circuit City Stores, Inc.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">This director has elected to defer payment under the Restricted Stock Unit Deferral Program (the &quot;Program&quot;) of the restricted stock units issued under the Circuit City Stores, Inc. 2000 Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan.  Vested deferred shares are held as &quot;phantom stock&quot; in a phantom stock account.  Dividends on vested and unvested shares will be reinvested until distributions are made.  The shares underlying the phantom stock units in the director's account will be distributed to the director when he or she ceases to serve as a director of the company.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The restricted stock units shall vest one-hundred percent (100%) on June 24, 2009.  Shares of common stock issued following the vesting of the units cannot be sold while serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Circuit City Stores, Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Megan A. Hargroves, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2008-06-24
0000104599
CIRCUIT CITY STORES INC
CC
0001073305
KING ALLEN B
9950 MAYLAND DRIVE
RICHMOND
VA
23233
1
0
0
0
Restricted Stock Units (2007 Award)
2008-06-26
4
M
0
6481
0
D
Common Stock
6481
173.6178
D
Restricted Stock Units (2007 Award)
2008-06-26
4
M
0
173.6178
0
D
Common Stock
173.6178
0
D
Phantom Stock
2008-06-26
4
M
0
6481
0
A
Common Stock
6481
27943.681
D
Phantom Stock
2008-06-26
4
M
0
173.6178
0
A
Common Stock
173.6178
28117.2988
D
Restricted Stock Units (2008 Award)
2008-06-24
4
A
0
29851
0
A
Common Stock
29851
29851
D
This award represents non-employee director's equity-based compensation for the 2009 fiscal year and has a fair market value on the date of grant of $100,000.
1 for 1
One hundred percent (100%) of the restricted stock units granted on June 26, 2007 have vested.   These shares cannot be sold while serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Circuit City Stores, Inc.
One-hundred percent (100%) of the Units paid as a dividend in connection with the restricted stock units granted on 6/26/2007 have vested.  These shares cannot be sold while serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Circuit City Stores, Inc.
This director has elected to defer payment under the Restricted Stock Unit Deferral Program (the "Program") of the restricted stock units issued under the Circuit City Stores, Inc. 2000 Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan.  Vested deferred shares are held as "phantom stock" in a phantom stock account.  Dividends on vested and unvested shares will be reinvested until distributions are made.  The shares underlying the phantom stock units in the director's account will be distributed to the director when he or she ceases to serve as a director of the company.
The restricted stock units shall vest one-hundred percent (100%) on June 24, 2009.  Shares of common stock issued following the vesting of the units cannot be sold while serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Circuit City Stores, Inc.
/s/ Megan A. Hargroves, Attorney-in-Fact
2008-06-26