<ARTICLE>                    5
<LEGEND>
THIS    SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM
WEINGARTEN    REALTY    INVESTORS'  ANNUAL  REPORT  FOR  THE  PERIOD  ENDED
DECEMBER  31,  1997.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000
       


<PERIOD-TYPE>                                            YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                 DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                    DEC-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                      DEC-30-1997
<CASH>                                                  2,754
<SECURITIES>                                           12,345
<RECEIVABLES>                                          15,583
<ALLOWANCES>                                            1,000
<INVENTORY>                                                 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            0
<PP&E>                                              1,018,758
<DEPRECIATION>                                        262,511
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                        946,793
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                       0
<BONDS>                                                     0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       0
<PREFERRED>                                                 0
<COMMON>                                                  800
<OTHER-SE>                                            389,186
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                          946,793
<SALES>                                                     0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                      174,512
<CGS>                                                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                          54,888
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       37,976
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                            0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     30,009
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                        54,966
<INCOME-TAX>                                                0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                    54,966
<DISCONTINUED>                                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                             0
<CHANGES>                                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                           54,966
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            2.06
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            2.06