FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * NICKELS ELIZABETH A   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol SPARTAN STORES INC [SPTN] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O 850 - 76TH STREET SW 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/16/2005 (Street) GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49518 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 05/10/2006   A   1,460 (1) A $ 0 13,555 D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Phantom Stock	(2)	02/16/2005		A		410.923		(2)	(2)	Common Stock	410.923	$ 9.43	410.923	D
Phantom Stock	(2)	05/11/2005		A		358.073		(2)	(2)	Common Stock	358.073	$ 11.52	768.996	D
Phantom Stock	(2)	08/09/2005		A		418.455		(2)	(2)	Common Stock	418.455	$ 11.65	1,187.451	D
Phantom Stock	(2)	11/08/2005		A		451.313		(2)	(2)	Common Stock	451.313	$ 9.14	1,638.764	D
Phantom Stock	(2)	12/20/2005		D			1,638.764	(2)	(2)	Common Stock	1,638.764	$ 10.64	0	D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
NICKELS ELIZABETH A C/O 850 - 76TH STREET SW GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49518	X

Signatures

/s/ Daniel C. Persinger, by Power of Attorney		05/12/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	This Form 4 reports the grant of 1,460 shares of restricted stock under the Spartan Stores, Inc. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan ("Plan"). These shares will vest at the rate of one-third per year beginning on May 10, 2007, and will be fully vested on May 10, 2009. Prior to vesting, these shares will remain subject to restrictions in accordance with the Plan and the terms of the grant.
(2)	This Form 4 reports shares of phantom stock credited to Ms. Nickels for deferred Director fees pursuant to the Spartan Stores, Inc. Supplemental Savings Plan for Directors (the "Plan"). Shares under the Plan are issued on a one-for-one basis according to the amount of fees deferred and the price of Spartan Stores, Inc. common stock on the date of the deferral. On December 20, 2005, the Company terminated the Plan. All shares of phantom stock credited to Ms. Nickels were subsequently paid in cash.

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