Consolidated Statement Of Equity (USD $)	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock, At Cost [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Cumulative Distributions In Excess Of Net Income [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) [Member]	Cedar Shopping Centers, Inc. [Member]	Minority Interests In Consolidated Joint Ventures [Member]	Limited Partners' Mezzanine OP Units [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 163,669,000	$ 4,309,000	$ (21,702,000)	$ 748,194,000	$ (378,254,000)	$ (2,560,000)	$ 513,656,000	$ 6,081,000	$ 1,390,000	$ 7,471,000	$ 521,127,000
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012	6,837,000	71,817,000
Net income (loss)					8,563,000		8,563,000	(152,000)	(9,000)	(161,000)	8,402,000
Unrealized gain on change in fair value of cash flow hedges						1,074,000	1,074,000		2,000	2,000	1,076,000
Share-based compensation, net		28,000	1,406,000	981,000			2,415,000				2,415,000
Share-based compensation, net, shares		467,000
Net proceeds from sales of Series B shares	61,874,000			(2,025,000)			59,849,000				59,849,000
Net proceeds from sales of Series B shares, shares	2,521,000
Redemption of Series A shares	(34,882,000)			1,056,000	(1,166,000)		(34,992,000)				(34,992,000)
Redemption of Series A shares, shares	(1,408,000)
Common stock sales and issuance expenses, net				(65,000)			(65,000)				(65,000)
Common stock sales and issuance expenses, net, shares		2,000
Preferred stock dividends					(10,811,000)		(10,811,000)				(10,811,000)
Distributions to common shareholders/ noncontrolling interests					(10,819,000)		(10,819,000)		(29,000)	(694,000)	(11,513,000)
Conversions of OP Units into common stock				24,000			24,000		(24,000)	(24,000)
Conversions of OP Units into common stock, shares		3,000
Reallocation adjustment of limited partners' interest				(35,000)			(35,000)		21,000	21,000	(14,000)
Disposition of noncontrolling interest								81,000		81,000	81,000
Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$ 190,661,000	$ 4,337,000	$ (20,296,000)	$ 748,130,000	$ (392,487,000)	$ (1,486,000)	$ 528,859,000	$ 5,345,000	$ 1,351,000	$ 6,696,000	$ 535,555,000
Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2013	7,950,000	72,289,000