Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional paid-in capital	Accumulated dividends in excess of earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Non- controlling interests	Officer	Officer Accumulated dividends in excess of earnings	Officer Non- controlling interests
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		118,085,155
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 1,291,159	$ 12	$ 1,497,662	$ (289,309)	$ (8,812)	$ 91,606
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares issued under the Equity Incentive Plan (in shares)		535,819
Shares issued under the Equity Incentive Plan	428		428
Shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)		(142,247)
Shares withheld for employee taxes	(1,905)		(1,905)
Stock based compensation expense	2,063		1,809			254
Equity Redemption of OP Units (in shares)		98,986
Redemption of OP Units	1,439		1,439			(1,439)
Adjustment to non-controlling interests ownership in Operating Partnership	0		2			(2)
Registration expenditures	(15)		(15)
Cash dividends	(14,019)			(13,041)		(978)	$ (68)	$ (48)	$ (20)
Net income attributable to Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.	7,415			7,415
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	559					559
Other comprehensive income	1,573				1,454	119
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021		118,577,713
Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	$ 1,287,190	$ 12	1,499,420	(294,983)	(7,358)	90,099
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021	122,685,266	122,685,266
Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 1,366,353	$ 12	1,577,837	(297,801)	(3,154)	89,459
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares issued under the Equity Incentive Plan (in shares)		406,106
Shares issued under the Equity Incentive Plan	302		302
Shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)		(122,658)
Shares withheld for employee taxes	(2,405)		(2,405)
Cancellation of restricted stock (in shares)		(10,649)
Stock based compensation expense	$ 2,572		2,572
Equity Redemption of OP Units (in shares)	50,000	50,000
Redemption of OP Units	$ 978		978			(978)
Adjustment to non-controlling interests ownership in Operating Partnership	0		(2,668)			2,668
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, Shares		724,279
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock	14,211		14,211
Registration expenditures	(172)		(172)
Cash dividends	(17,139)			(16,009)		(1,130)	$ (110)	$ (110)	$ 0
Net income attributable to Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.	11,641			11,641
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	825					825
Other comprehensive income	$ 2,203				2,059	144
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022	123,732,344	123,732,344
Balance at Mar. 31, 2022	$ 1,378,281	$ 12	$ 1,590,655	$ (302,279)	$ (1,095)	$ 90,988