<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000905729-14-000125.txt : 20140321
<SEC-HEADER>0000905729-14-000125.hdr.sgml : 20140321
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20140321145115
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000905729-14-000125
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20140318
FILED AS OF DATE:		20140321
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20140321

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPARTAN STORES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000877422
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-GROCERIES & GENERAL LINE [5141]
		IRS NUMBER:				380593940
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		850 76TH ST SW
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 8700
		CITY:			GRAND RAPIDS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49518
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6168782000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		850 76TH ST SW
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 8700
		CITY:			GRAND RAPIDS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49518

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ATKINS M SHAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001260096

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-31127
		FILM NUMBER:		14709865

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1250 S GROVE AVE STE. 200
		CITY:			BARRINGTON
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60010
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>atkins4_032114.xml
<DESCRIPTION>OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-03-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000877422</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SPARTAN STORES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SPTN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001260096</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ATKINS M SHAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O 850 - 76TH STREET SW</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GRAND RAPIDS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>49518</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-03-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30487.06</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the bona fide gift of common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Daniel C. Persinger, By Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-03-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>atkinspoa.htm
<DESCRIPTION>LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Spartan Stores - Atkins POA</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>EXHIBIT 24</B></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY</B></P>

<P>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; I appoint ALEX J. DEYONKER, GORDON R. LEWIS, and DANIEL C. PERSINGER, or any one or more of them, each with full power of substitution, my attorneys and agents to do any and all acts and things and to execute and file any and all instruments that such attorneys and agents, or any of them, may consider necessary or advisable to enable the undersigned (in his or her individual capacity or in a fiduciary or other capacity) to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &quot;Act&quot;), and any requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the preparation, execution and filing of any report or statement of beneficial ownership or changes in beneficial ownership of securities of SPARTAN STORES, INC. (the &quot;Company&quot;) that I (in my individual capacity or in a fiduciary or other capacity) may be required to file pursuant to Sections 13 or 16 of the Act including, without limitation, full power and authority to sign my name, in my individual capacity or in a fiduciary or other capacity, to any report, application or statement on Form ID, Forms 3, 4 or 5, Schedules 13D or 13G, or to any amendments or any successor form or forms adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission ratify and confirm all that such attorneys and agents, or any of them do or cause to be done under this power.</P>

<P>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; I agree that the attorneys-in-fact named may rely entirely on information furnished orally or in writing by me to such attorneys-in-fact.  I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the attorneys-in-fact against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) that arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or omission of necessary fact in the information provided by the undersigned to the attorneys-in-fact for purposes of executing, acknowledging, delivering or filing any such forms, or any amendments or any successor forms thereto, or any form or forms adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.</P>

<P>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; This authorization shall be in addition to all prior authorizations to act for the undersigned with respect to securities of the Company in these matters. </P>
<BR>

<TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="54%" VALIGN="TOP">Date:&nbsp;&nbsp;April 23, 2006</TD>
<TD WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">/s/ M. Shan Atkins</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD WIDTH="54%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP">Signature</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD WIDTH="54%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD WIDTH="54%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD WIDTH="54%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">M. S. Atkins</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD WIDTH="54%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP">Please print name</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

</BODY>
</HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
