<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-03-14</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001407623</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ROIC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001546181</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Zorn Eric S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>8905 TOWNE CENTRE DRIVE, SUITE 108</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92122</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-03-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>34000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person was granted 3,000 shares of restricted Common Stock that were issued pursuant to the Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. 2009 Equity Incentive Plan.  The shares vest in equal installments on January 1, 2015 and the first two anniversaries thereafter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Eric S. Zorn</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-03-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
