Ownership Submission
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 *
EIDSON DENNIS
  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
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
President & C.E.O.
(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   39,600 A $ 0 127,677 D  
Common Stock (2) 05/18/2009   F   838 D $ 13.34 126,839 D  
Common Stock               1,560.048 I By 401(k) Plan

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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
Stock Option (Right to Buy) (3) $ 13.87 05/15/2009   A   9,350   05/01/2010 05/15/2019 Common Stock 9,350 $ 0 9,350 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) (3) $ 13.87 05/15/2009   A   9,350   05/01/2011 05/15/2019 Common Stock 9,350 $ 0 9,350 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) (3) $ 13.87 05/15/2009   A   9,350   05/01/2012 05/15/2019 Common Stock 9,350 $ 0 9,350 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) (3) $ 13.87 05/15/2009   A   9,350   05/01/2013 05/15/2019 Common Stock 9,350 $ 0 9,350 D  
Restricted Stock Unit (4) 05/15/2009   A   20,400 (5)     (4)   (4) Common Stock 20,400 $ 0 20,400 (5) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
EIDSON DENNIS
C/O 850 - 76TH STREET SW
GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49518
  X     President & C.E.O.  

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 for the fiscal year ending March 27, 2010.

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