May 26, 2005

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549
Attention:  Jeffrey B. Werbitt, Esq.

    Re:      Spartan Stores, Inc.
             Preliminary Schedule 14A filed on May 16, 2005 by Loeb Partners
             Corporation
             File No. 000-31127
             -----------------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This letter responds to the comments of the staff of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Staff") contained in their letter dated May 23, 2005 (the
"Letter") relating to our above-captioned filing. Any references in this letter
to the "Proxy Statement" refer to our Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule
14A, File Number 000-31127.

         The numbers of our responses correspond to the numbers of the comments
in the Staff's Letter. The page numbers referenced below refer to the marked
copy of the Proxy Statement.

General
- -------

         Comment

1.       We note your disclosure in footnote 1 that you may modify your
         materials if matters other than the election of directors will be
         considered at Spartan's annual meeting. Please revise to disclose, if
         true, that your statement applies to matters set forth on the company's
         proxy card and that your representatives will use their discretion on
         matters that are not included on Spartans' proxy card. Also,
         supplementally clarify how you plan to "modify" your materials and
         address any potential need to recirculate a new proxy statement and
         form of proxy to address additional matters. For example, explain
         whether you may add additional matters from Spartans' proxy card to
         your proxy card rather than abstaining from the vote?

         Response

         We have amended the Proxy  Statement  to address the Staff's  comment.
         See page 1 of the Proxy Statement.

Voting Procedures, page 5
- -------------------------

         How will my shares be voted?, page 6
         ------------------------------------

         Comment



Securities and Exchange Commission
May 26, 2005
Page 2


2.       You disclose that submitting the proxy card will entitle your
         representatives to vote in accordance with their discretion on matters
         not described in "this proxy statement that may arise at the 2005
         Annual Meeting." Please revise to clarify, if true, that your
         representatives will only vote in accordance with their discretion on
         matters not described in Spartan's 2005 proxy statement.

         Response

         We have amended the Proxy  Statement  to address the Staff's  comment.
         See pages 6 and 8 of the Proxy Statement.



Securities and Exchange Commission
May 26, 2005
Page 3


         Should you have any questions or comments with respect to the
foregoing, please do not hesitate to contact our outside counsel, Patrick Dooley
of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, at (212) 872-1080 or, in his absence,
David Bersh at (212) 872-8056.


                                           Sincerely,


                                           /s/ Thomas L. Kempner
                                           ---------------------
                                           Thomas L. Kempner