ST. AUGUSTINE, FL (REIT Media) April 18, 2008 - Weingarten Realty Investors (NYSE:WRI), a leading U.S. shopping center developer, announced the closing of Epic Village at St. Augustine in St. Augustine, Florida. This is a 23-acre site to be developed jointly by Weingarten Realty and St. Augustine Retail Holdings, LLC as a theatre anchored shopping center with 17,896 square feet of retail space with four out parcels.

Epic Village at St. Augustine is neighboring to the retail focal point of the greater St. Augustine Market and will be anchored by 16 Screen Epic Theatres. The village will be surrounded by specialty shops with a Spanish design and St. Augustine flair. The theatre will feature stadium seating with Dolby Digital Sound, party rooms and gourmet refreshments. Epic Village will be complimented by restaurants and boutique shops, with an emphasis on family entertainment.

St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States and attracts approximately 6.5 million visitors a year. This project is slated to open Spring 2009.

“We are delighted to join the St. Augustine market,” said Lynn Dehlinger, Regional Director of New Development for Weingarten Realty. “Epic Village at St. Augustine will provide the community a great venue for family entertainment, shopping and casual dining. This entry into St Johns County demonstrates our continued commitment to delivering new retail opportunities in northeast Florida.”

About Weingarten Realty Investors:

As one of the largest real estate investment trusts listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Weingarten Realty Investors (NYSE: WRI) is celebrating its 60th anniversary as a commercial real estate owner, manager and developer, incorporated in 1948. Focused on delivering solid returns to shareholders, Weingarten is actively developing, acquiring, and intensively managing properties in 23 states that span the United States from coast-to-coast. The Company's portfolio of 420 properties includes 342 neighborhood and community shopping centers and 78 industrial properties. Including tenant-owned square footage, the Company's portfolio currently totals more than 70 million square feet under management. Weingarten has one of the most diversified tenant bases of any major REIT in its sector, with the largest of its 5,600 tenants comprising less than 3 percent of its rental revenues. To learn more about the Company's operations and growth strategies, please visit http://www.weingarten.com.

Weingarten Realty Investors
Carrie Murray, 713-866-6959
Marketing Manager