Exhibit 5.1

                    [LETTERHEAD OF LOCKE LIDDELL & SAPP LLP]

January  17,  2000
Weingarten  Realty  Investors
2600  Citadel  Plaza  Drive
Suite  300
Houston,  Texas  77008

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:

     We  have  acted  as  counsel  to  Weingarten Realty Investors, a Texas real
estate  investment  trust  (the  "Trust"),  in  connection with the Registration
Statement  on  Form  S-8  filed  by  the  Trust with the Securities and Exchange
Commission  pursuant  to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the
offer  and  sale  of  up  to  an additional 750,000 shares of the Trust's Common
Shares  of Beneficial Interest, $0.03 par value per share (the "Common Shares"),
that may be issued pursuant to the Trust's 1993 Incentive Share Plan, as amended
(the  "Plan").

     In  connection  with  this  opinion, we have examined and are familiar with
originals  or  copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of
such  documents,  corporate  records, certificates of public officials and other
instruments  as  we  have  deemed necessary or advisable in connection with this
opinion,  including the Trust's Declaration of Trust, the Trust's Bylaws and the
Plan.  In our examination we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the
legal  capacity  of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted
to  us  as  originals,  the  conformity  to  original documents of all documents
submitted  to  us  as  certified  or  photostatic  copies,  the  authenticity of
originals  of  such  copies  and  the  authenticity of telegraphic or telephonic
confirmations  of  public officials and others.  As to the facts material to our
opinion,  we  have  relied  upon  certificates  or  telegraphic  or  telephonic
confirmations  of  public  officials and certificates, documents, statements and
other  information  of  the  Trust  or  its  representatives  or  officers.

     Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Common Shares that
may  be  issued  by  the  Trust, when issued and paid for in accordance with the
terms  of  the  Plan,  will  be  validly  issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

     We  hereby  consent  to  the  filing  of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration  Statement.

                                   Very  truly  yours,

                                   /s/  Locke  Liddell  &  Sapp  LLP

                                   LOCKE  LIDDELL  &  SAPP  LLP