8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  December 23, 2004

SPARTAN STORES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)

Michigan
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) 000-31127
(Commission
File Number) 38-0593940
(IRS Employer
Identification no.)

850 76^th Street, S.W.
P.O. Box 8700
Grand Rapids, Michigan
(Address of principal executive offices)
49518-8700
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number,
including area code:  (616) 878-2000

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425).

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12).

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)).

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)).

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure

                    On December 23, 2004, Spartan Stores, Inc. announced that it has sold its 65 percent ownership interest in a retail store to its former joint venture partner. The full text of the press release is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

                    The information provided under Item 7.01 of this report shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing. This report will not be deemed an admission as to the materiality of any information in the report that is required to be disclosed solely by Regulation FD.

Item 9.01.	Financial Statements and Exhibits
	(c)	Exhibits: The following document is attached as an exhibit to this report on Form 8-K:
	99.1	Press Release dated December 23, 2004

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SIGNATURES

                    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date:  December 23, 2004	SPARTAN STORES, INC.
	By	/s/ David M. Staples
		David M. Staples Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Document
99.1	Press Release dated December 23, 2004.

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

For Immediate Release

Investor Contact: Dave Staples
Executive Vice President & CFO
(616) 878-8319 Media Contact: Jeanne Norcross
Vice President Corporate Affairs
(616) 878-2830

Spartan Stores Sells Ownership Interest in Retail Store Joint Venture
Proceeds Used to Reduce Outstanding Debt; Retains Customer Supply Agreement

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN-December 23, 2004-Spartan Stores, Inc., (Nasdaq: SPTN) today announced that it has sold its 65 percent ownership interest in a retail store to its former joint venture partner.

Spartan's annualized retail sales and after-tax earnings from the joint venture approximated $20 million and $0.3 million, respectively. Total consideration from the transaction (including the repayment of previous advances) will be used to repay $2.0 million of related debt principal and reduce the amounts outstanding under the Company's revolving credit facility by approximately $2.5 million, resulting in a total debt reduction of $4.5 million. The Company entered into a 10-year distribution supply agreement with the acquirer and expects to record an after-tax gain of approximately $0.4 million in the fiscal 2005 third quarter due to the sale transaction. While future reported retail sales will be lower due to the sale, the Company's prior comparable store sales guidance is not impacted as sales from the joint venture store were not included in Spartan's comparable store sales totals.

"We are pleased to have reached an agreement to sell the ownership interest in our only retail store joint venture," stated Spartan Stores' Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Craig C. Sturken. "The agreement is beneficial to both parties and we look forward to continuing our strong relationship with the store's owners by meeting their needs through our high quality distribution products and value-added services."

About Spartan Stores

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Spartan Stores, Inc., (Nasdaq:SPTN) is the nation's eighth largest grocery distributor with warehouse facilities in Grand Rapids and Plymouth, Michigan. The Company distributes more than 40,000 private-label and national brand products to over 300 independent grocery stores in Michigan. Spartan Stores also owns and operates 54 retail supermarkets and 21 deep-discount food and drug stores in Michigan and Ohio, including Family Fare Supermarkets, Glen's Markets, and The Pharm.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identifiable by words or phrases indicating that Spartan Stores or its management "expects", "looks forward", or that a particular occurrence "will be" the result or occurrence; or similarly stated expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially. Additional information about the factors that may adversely affect these forward-looking statements are contained in Spartan Stores' reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Spartan Stores undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect developments or information obtained after the date of this press release.