Apple Computer Inc. on Friday confirmed for MacCentral plans to open the company’s first retail store in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While the store will not open until mid-2005, the confirmation is welcome news for Canadian Mac users who will also get their first access to the iTunes Music store later this month.
With 99 retail stores worldwide, only three are located outside of the United States: Tokyo, Osaka and opening tomorrow London, England. According to Apple its stores have hosted 51 million visitors since the first store opened in May 2001.
In its fiscal fourth quarter filed in October, Apple reported $376 million in revenue from the retail stores representing 95 percent growth over the same quarter a year ago. All told, 98,000 Macs were sold throuogh Apple’s retail channel. Apple said quarterly revenue was up, on average, 40 percent per store.
Adding to its retail success, Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled last month the Apple mini stores. The mini stores are a new 750-square-foot “mini” design for its retail chain.