| Weingarten Realty Investors is a real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company's primary business is leasing space to tenants in the shopping centers it owns or leases. The Company also provides property management services for both joint ventures in which the it partners and for other outside owners for which it charges fees. As of December 31, 2012 , the Company owned or operated under long-term leases, either directly or through its interest in real estate joint ventures or partnerships, a total of 292 developed income-producing properties and two properties under various stages of construction and development. The total number of centers includes 288 neighborhood and community shopping centers and six other operating properties located in 21 states spanning the country from coast to coast. The portfolio of properties contains approximately 53.7 million square feet of gross leasable area that is either owned by the Company or others. |