Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF 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
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0104
Expires: January 31, 2005
Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Hartline Alan R
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
10/15/2008		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SPARTAN STORES INC [SPTN]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O 850 - 76TH STREET SW		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Exec. VP Merchan. & Marketing
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49518		 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 Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock (1) 30,443
D
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Phantom Stock   (2)   (2) Common Stock 170.293 $ (2) D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/07/2004 05/06/2013 Common Stock 1,250 $ 2.29 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/07/2005 05/06/2013 Common Stock 1,250 $ 2.29 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/07/2006 05/06/2013 Common Stock 1,250 $ 2.29 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/07/2007 05/06/2013 Common Stock 1,250 $ 2.29 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/12/2005 05/11/2014 Common Stock 781 $ 3.25 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/12/2006 05/11/2014 Common Stock 781 $ 3.25 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/12/2007 05/11/2014 Common Stock 781 $ 3.25 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/12/2008 05/11/2014 Common Stock 782 $ 3.25 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/11/2006 05/10/2015 Common Stock 750 $ 11.5 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/11/2007 05/10/2015 Common Stock 750 $ 11.5 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/11/2008 05/10/2015 Common Stock 750 $ 11.5 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/11/2009 05/10/2015 Common Stock 750 $ 11.5 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/10/2007 05/09/2016 Common Stock 1,500 $ 13.7 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/10/2008 05/09/2016 Common Stock 1,500 $ 13.7 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/10/2009 05/09/2016 Common Stock 1,500 $ 13.7 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/10/2010 05/09/2016 Common Stock 1,500 $ 13.7 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/18/2008 05/17/2017 Common Stock 1,050 $ 28.28 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/18/2009 05/17/2017 Common Stock 1,050 $ 28.28 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/18/2010 05/17/2017 Common Stock 1,050 $ 28.28 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/18/2011 05/17/2017 Common Stock 1,050 $ 28.28 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/16/2009 05/15/2018 Common Stock 2,750 $ 22.69 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/16/2010 05/15/2018 Common Stock 2,750 $ 22.69 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/16/2011 05/15/2018 Common Stock 2,750 $ 22.69 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 05/11/2012 05/15/2018 Common Stock 2,750 $ 22.69 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Hartline Alan R
C/O 850 - 76TH STREET SW
GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49518		       Exec. VP Merchan. & Marketing  

Signatures

/s/ Daniel C. Persinger, By Power of Attorney 10/17/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(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) On October 15, 2008 the Spartan Stores, Inc. Board of Directors determined that Mr. Hartline is an "officer" for the purposes of Rule 16a-1(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
(2) Represents shares of "phantom stock" issued pursuant to the Spartan Stores, Inc. Supplemental Executive Savings Plan ("Plan"). Shares of phantom stock are issued on a one-for-one basis and are payable in cash in accordance with the Plan.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.