EXHIBIT 5 AND EXHIBIT 23.2

February 4, 2000

Spartan Stores, Inc.
870 76th Street, S.W.
P.O. Box 8700
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49518

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                    As legal counsel for Spartan Stores, Inc., a Michigan corporation (the "Company"), we have examined and are familiar with the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and other corporate records and documents and have made such further examination as we have deemed necessary or advisable in order to enable us to render this opinion. Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

          1.      The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Michigan.

          2.      The Company has an authorized capitalization of 20,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $2 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, no par value.

          3.      The 500,000 shares being registered on Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933 are authorized shares of Common Stock and such shares, when issued pursuant to Spartan Stores, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan, will be legally issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable.

                    We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion and consent as an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 covering the Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Registration Statement.