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):  February 17, 2006

SPARTAN STORES, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as
Specified in 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 8.01. Other Events.

          On February 17, 2006, Spartan Stores, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing that the Board of Directors has declared a dividend of $0.05 per share of Common Stock.

          A copy of the press release is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01.	Financial Statements and Exhibits.
	(c)	Exhibits:
	99.1	Press Release, dated February 17, 2006

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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:  February 17, 2006	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 February 17, 2006.

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 Declares Quarterly Dividend

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN-February 17, 2006-Spartan Stores, Inc., (Nasdaq:SPTN) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per common share. The dividend is payable on March 14, 2006 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 1, 2006. As of January 27, 2006, there were approximately 20,814,899 common shares outstanding.

Commenting on the Company's initial cash dividend declaration, Spartan Stores' Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Craig C. Sturken said, "We are pleased to begin paying a quarterly cash dividend to our shareholders. The dividend reflects our confidence in the Company's ability to continue delivering strong financial results while maintaining a solid balance sheet."

About Spartan Stores

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Spartan Stores, Inc., (Nasdaq:SPTN) is the nation's tenth 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 350 independent grocery stores in Michigan. Spartan Stores also owns and operates 54 retail supermarkets and 19 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. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially. The Company's adoption of a dividend policy does not commit the board of directors to declare future dividends. Each future dividend will be considered and declared by the board of directors in its discretion. The ability of the board of directors to continue to declare dividends will depend on a number of factors, including the Company's future financial condition and profitability and compliance with the terms of its credit facilities.

Additional information about the factors that may adversely affect these forward-looking statements is contained in Spartan Stores' reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other risk factors exist and new risk factors may emerge at any time. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as predictions of future results. 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.

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