<ARTICLE>                                                                 5
<LEGEND>  THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
          FROM THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SPARTAN
          STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER
          13, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
          FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                          1,000
       
                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                     OTHER<F1>
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               MAR-28-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                  JUN-22-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                    SEP-13-1997
<CASH>                                                               35,103
<SECURITIES>                                                         15,086
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        74,856
<ALLOWANCES>                                                        (3,031)
<INVENTORY>                                                          97,524
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    234,026
<PP&E>                                                              313,975
<DEPRECIATION>                                                    (142,528)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      412,756
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                               165,666
<BONDS>                                                             129,248
<COMMON>                                                             23,633
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<OTHER-SE>                                                           86,468
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        412,756
<SALES>                                                           1,153,378
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                  1,153,378
<CGS>                                                             1,038,050
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                     1,038,050
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                    101,127
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                        636
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                    4,746
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                       8,819
<INCOME-TAX>                                                          3,175
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                   5,644
<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                          5,644
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           .47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           .47
<FN>
<F1>24-Week Period
</FN>