Consolidated Statement of Partners' Capital - 9 months ended Sep. 30, 2017 - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total		Officer	Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership L.P.	Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership L.P. Officer	Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership L.P. Limited Partner’s Capital		Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership L.P. ROIC Capital		Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership L.P. ROIC Capital Officer	[2]	Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership L.P. Accumulated other comprehensive loss	2009 stock plan	2009 stock plan Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership L.P.	2009 stock plan Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership L.P. ROIC Capital
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016							11,668,061	[1]	109,301,762	[2]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016					$ 1,315,565		$ 127,324	[1]	$ 1,191,970	[2]			$ (3,729)
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
OP units issued under the 2009 Plan (in shares)	[2]															353,261
OP units issued under the 2009 Plan														$ 44	$ 44	$ 44
Repurchase of OP Units (in shares)	[2]								(74,331)
Repurchase of OP Units		$ (1,571)			(1,571)				$ (1,571)	[2]
Cancellation of restricted stock (in shares)	[2]								(999)
Stock based compensation expense		4,535			4,535				$ 4,535	[2]
Issuance of OP Units (in shares)	[1]						168,497
Issuance of OP Units		$ 3,559			3,559		$ 3,559	[1]
Equity redemption of OP Units (in shares)		157,567					(150,503)	[1]	150,503	[2]
OP Unit redemption		$ 3,202			3,202		$ (3,202)	[1]	$ 3,202	[2]
Cash redemption of OP Units (in shares)	[1]						(7,064)
Cash redemption of OP Units		(150)			(150)		$ (150)	[1]
Adjustment to non-controlling interests ownership in Operating Partnership		0					291	[1]	(291)	[2]
Registration expenditures		(715)			(715)				(715)	[2]
Cash distributions ($0.5625 per unit)					(68,261)		(6,539)	[1]	(61,722)	[2]
Dividends payable to officers		(68,261)		$ (176)		$ (176)					$ (176)
Net income attributable to Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership, LP		30,575			30,575		$ 2,947	[1]	$ 27,628	[2]
Other comprehensive income		$ 3,108			3,108								3,108
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2017		121,409,187	[2]				11,678,991.000	[1]	109,730,196.000	[2]
Balance at Sep. 30, 2017					$ 1,286,513		$ 124,230	[1]	$ 1,162,904	[2]			$ (621)

[1] Consists of limited partnership interests held by third parties.

[2] Consists of general and limited partnership interests held by ROIC.