Apple stores coming to Rhode Island, South Africa

ifo Apple Store reports that Apple has finally signed a lease for a space in the Providence Place Mall, in Providence, RI, for a future retail store – after a 2 year search for the "perfect" spot.

In other retail news, Apple is also returning to South Africa after a 20-year absence, with plans to open stores in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria. Although trade sanctions against South Africa were lifted in 1991, Apple has had no business activity there since the sanctions were imposed in 1985, leaving an "established and growing Macintosh user base" with no where to turn except Core Group, who has been the sole Apple distributer. The three stores are expected to open before the end of 2005.