Apple intends to open 35-40 retail stores in 2006

If you're like me and the nearest Apple Store is a multi-hour car drive away, don't abandon hope yet. Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer stated that Apple plans on opening 35 to 40 brand new stores in fiscal 2006, most of which will be in the US.

Apparantly, direct sales accounted for 51 percent of retail sales for the September quarter, which surprises me, as I always assumed the vast majority of sales were generated by the online Apple Store.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my dream of "Apple Store Cape Cod" may eventually be realized.

[via Macsimum]