Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 42,557	$ 35,573
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	73,367	75,883
Amortization of deferred financing costs and mortgage premiums, net	1,553	1,386
Straight-line rent adjustment	(2,650)	(4,366)
Amortization of above and below market rent	(13,025)	(10,891)
Amortization relating to stock based compensation	6,124	5,415
Provisions for tenant credit losses	1,654	1,382
Other noncash interest expense	450	1,373
Gain on sale of real estate	(13,175)	(5,890)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Tenant and other receivables	848	864
Prepaid expenses	2,950	1,606
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	12,912	13,106
Other assets and liabilities, net	(2,330)	(4,787)
Net cash provided by operating activities	111,235	110,654
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investments in real estate	0	(44,195)
Proceeds from sale of real estate	45,388	26,880
Improvements to properties	(28,072)	(29,162)
Deposits on real estate acquisitions, net	0	500
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	17,316	(45,977)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Principal repayments on mortgages	(410)	(19,478)
Proceeds from draws on credit facility	51,000	141,000
Payments on credit facility	(115,000)	(147,500)
Redemption of OP Units	(3,028)	(1,992)
Distributions to OP Unitholders	(6,722)	(6,815)
Proceeds from the sale of common stock	16,351	25,703
Registration expenditures	(272)	(376)
Dividends paid to common shareholders	(67,804)	(66,272)
Issuance of OP Units under the Equity Incentive Plan	512	145
Shares withheld for employee taxes	(1,986)	(1,400)
Net cash used in financing activities	(127,359)	(76,985)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	1,192	(12,308)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	7,449	16,965
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	8,641	4,657
Other non-cash investing and financing activities increase (decrease):
Intangible lease liabilities	0	1,680
Interest rate swap asset	(4,931)	4,750
Interest rate swap liabilities	4,729	0
Accrued real estate improvement costs	1,276	3,689
Equity redemption of OP Units	1,472
Disposition of real estate through issuance of mortgage note	13,250	0
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	6,608	3,046
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in Statements of Cash Flows	7,449	16,965
Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership L.P.
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	42,557	35,573
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	73,367	75,883
Amortization of deferred financing costs and mortgage premiums, net	1,553	1,386
Straight-line rent adjustment	(2,650)	(4,366)
Amortization of above and below market rent	(13,025)	(10,891)
Amortization relating to stock based compensation	6,124	5,415
Provisions for tenant credit losses	1,654	1,382
Other noncash interest expense	450	1,373
Gain on sale of real estate	(13,175)	(5,890)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Tenant and other receivables	848	864
Prepaid expenses	2,950	1,606
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	12,912	13,106
Other assets and liabilities, net	(2,330)	(4,787)
Net cash provided by operating activities	111,235	110,654
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investments in real estate	0	(44,195)
Proceeds from sale of real estate	45,388	26,880
Improvements to properties	(28,072)	(29,162)
Deposits on real estate acquisitions, net	0	500
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	17,316	(45,977)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Principal repayments on mortgages	(410)	(19,478)
Proceeds from draws on credit facility	51,000	141,000
Payments on credit facility	(115,000)	(147,500)
Redemption of OP Units	(3,028)	(1,992)
Distributions to OP Unitholders	(74,526)	(73,087)
Proceeds from the sale of common stock	16,351	25,703
Registration expenditures	(272)	(376)
Issuance of OP Units under the Equity Incentive Plan	512	145
Shares withheld for employee taxes	(1,986)	(1,400)
Net cash used in financing activities	(127,359)	(76,985)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	1,192	(12,308)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	7,449	16,965
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	8,641	4,657
Other non-cash investing and financing activities increase (decrease):
Intangible lease liabilities	0	1,680
Interest rate swap asset	(4,931)	4,750
Interest rate swap liabilities	4,729	0
Accrued real estate improvement costs	1,276	3,689
Equity redemption of OP Units	1,472
Disposition of real estate through issuance of mortgage note	13,250	0
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	6,608	3,046
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in Statements of Cash Flows	$ 7,449	$ 16,965