Note 5 - Other Real Estate Investments and Other Assets (Details) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Note 5 - Other Real Estate Investments and Other Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Equity Method Investments		$ 833,650		$ 1,037,218
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments		130,808	$ 150,073
Payments to Acquire Additional Interest in Subsidiaries		30,500
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture		87,953	59,602
Secured Debt	[1]	$ 1,645,946		$ 1,424,228
Albertson's, NAI and Safeway [Member]
Note 5 - Other Real Estate Investments and Other Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Stores		2,230
Number of States in which Entity Operates		34
Preferred Equity Investments [Member]
Note 5 - Other Real Estate Investments and Other Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Equity Method Investments		$ 198,100
Number of Real Estate Properties		422
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments		$ 16,500	17,500
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal		$ 9,200	$ 3,700
Number of Capital Transactions		7	3
Preferred Equity Investments [Member] | Leased Properties [Member]
Note 5 - Other Real Estate Investments and Other Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Real Estate Properties		383
ABS Venture [Member]
Note 5 - Other Real Estate Investments and Other Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Additional Interest in Subsidiaries		$ 85,300
ABS Venture [Member] | Two Partners [Member]
Note 5 - Other Real Estate Investments and Other Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture		105,000
ABS Venture [Member] | Colony [Member]
Note 5 - Other Real Estate Investments and Other Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture		$ 100,000
AB Acquisition [Member] | Colony [Member]
Note 5 - Other Real Estate Investments and Other Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners		4.30%
AB Acquisition [Member] | ABS Venture [Member]
Note 5 - Other Real Estate Investments and Other Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners		14.35%
AB Acquisition [Member] | Kimco [Member]
Note 5 - Other Real Estate Investments and Other Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners		9.80%
Safeway [Member]
Note 5 - Other Real Estate Investments and Other Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest Liability		$ 65,000
Cost Method Investments, Increase (Decrease) in Additional Paid-in Capital		24,000
Cost Method Investment, Deferred Tax Effect		16,000
Safeway [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Note 5 - Other Real Estate Investments and Other Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Cost Method Investments		$ 190,300
Leveraged Lease [Member]
Note 5 - Other Real Estate Investments and Other Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Real Estate Properties		11
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal		$ 2,100
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		90.00%
Secured Debt		$ 11,200
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments		$ 22,000

[1] The Company determined that its valuation of Mortgages payable was classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.