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

OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Expires: January 31, 2005 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * STAPLES DAVID M   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol SPARTAN STORES INC [SPTN] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Exec. Vice President & CFO (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O 850 - 76TH STREET SW 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 05/15/2009 (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 (1) 05/15/2009   A   14,600 A $ 0 67,525 D   Common Stock (2) 05/18/2009   F   592 D $ 13.34 66,933 D

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
	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.		SEC 1474 (9-02)

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

Stock Option (Right to Buy) (3)

$ 13.87

05/15/2009

A

3,450

05/01/2010

05/15/2019

Common Stock

3,450

$ 0

3,450

D

Stock Option (Right to Buy) (3)

$ 13.87

05/15/2009

A

3,450

05/01/2011

05/15/2019

Common Stock

3,450

$ 0

3,450

D

Stock Option (Right to Buy) (3)

$ 13.87

05/15/2009

A

3,450

05/01/2012

05/15/2019

Common Stock

3,450

$ 0

3,450

D

Stock Option (Right to Buy) (3)

$ 13.87

05/15/2009

A

3,450

05/01/2013

05/15/2019

Common Stock

3,450

$ 0

3,450

D

Restricted Stock Unit (4)

(4)

05/15/2009

A

7,500 (5)

(4)

(4)

Common Stock

7,500 (5)

$ 0

7,500

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
STAPLES DAVID M C/O 850 - 76TH STREET SW GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49518			Exec. Vice President & CFO

Signatures

/s/ Daniel C. Persinger, By Power of Attorney		05/19/2009
**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)	Reports the grant of shares of restricted stock under the Spartan Stores, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan of 2005 ("Plan"). These shares will vest at the rate of 20% each year beginning on May 1, 2010, and will be fully vested on May 1, 2014. Prior to vesting, these shares will remain subject to restrictions in accordance with the Plan and the terms of the grant.
(2)	These shares were withheld by Spartan Stores, Inc. to satisfy tax withholding obligations incident upon the vesting of shares of restricted stock, the grant of which was previously reported.
(3)	Reports the grant of options to purchase shares of stock under the Plan. The options will vest at the rate of 25% each year beginning on May 1, 2010, and will be fully vested on May 1, 2013. Prior to vesting, the options will remain subject to restrictions in accordance with the Plan and the terms of the grant.
(4)	Represents the award of Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") under the Plan. Each RSU represents the contingent right to receive one share of Spartan Stores, Inc. common stock. The conversion of these RSUs into common stock is contingent upon the Company's achievement of specified levels of the performance measure for the fiscal year ending March 27, 2010.
(5)	Represents the target grant number. The actual number of shares that will be paid in respect of the RSU award may range from 0% to 200% of the target grant number depending upon the Company's achievement of specified levels of the performance measure of the fiscal year ending March 27, 2010.

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.