Apple has hit its stated goal of having 50 Apple Store retail locations open by the end of this year. The company opened the 49th and 50th locations this weekend in Denver, Colorado and Emeryville, California. The company is touting its reach to as many as 85 million people who Apple says live within 15 miles of a US Apple store.

Apple also included a mention today of its After-Thanksgiving promotional event at its retail locations (see our coverage from last week for more information). The stores will be staying open late on Friday, November 29th. Attendees at the event will get some free "stocking stuffers," and the company is giving away an iMac at each location. The event is being modeled on the midnight Jaguar sales event from August. From Apple:

Apple® opened its 49th and 50th retail stores in the U.S. this weekend, with new store locations in Denver, Colorado and Emeryville, California. The Company now has stores in 24 states in the US, with a retail location within 15 miles of 85 million people, about one third of the US population.

Every Apple store offers hot holiday gift ideas including the iPod™ digital music player for Mac® and Windows, iMac®, digital cameras, digital camcorders and software for the Mac. In addition, this holiday season visitors to the Apple stores can choose from two holiday wrapping paper designs created exclusively for Apple by San Francisco artist Rex Ray.

Apple is hosting a special holiday shopping event at all of its retail store locations on Friday, November 29 from 6 p.m. to midnight. Customers who attend the event will receive free stocking-stuffers, special values and a chance to win a new 15-inch iMac*.

*No purchase necessary

You can find more information on Apple Stores at Appleis Web site, as well as more information on the After-Thanksgiving event.