I always see black clothing there most of the times.
i think this is the store you're talking about. (:
http://www.ocmi.net/images/Hot%20Topic%201%20090502.jpg

i haven't been to one of the actual stores but i check out the online store alot =P seems pretty cool to me =D

Who doesn't know what Hot Topic is? I go there all the time, but mostly to get small stuff. The clothes are pretty expensive. Check out their online store: Hot Topic
Costs like 5 dollars shipping for me though, so I just use it to browse.
I think it's a pretty cool store and it's really original. Has a lot of clothes that are really "out there". You should go check it out.

Wow. I am just so utterly horrified by basically all of the posts in this thread.

For one, how is Hot Topic 'scary'? The employees are not 'freaky', either, they just dress in the same clothes that the store sells. Now, isn't that a no brainer? Wouldn't you want to work at a place where you are accepted for your style of clothing? Well, no duh. Oh yeah, and they tend to follow you around a lot. Whenever I'm in there (I rarely go, and basically it's always just to buy pins, patches, stickers, etc.), I usually get my own little self-appointed stalker that follows me through the store. It's a bit creepy (hilarious, all the same, if you pretend to pick your nose and wipe it on the clothing, or some other thing of that grotesque nature), but I always supposed it was because Hot Topic is often the victim of theivery. Yes, many a times have my friends, brother, or I unscrewed and stole spikes, ripped off the pins that come on those annoying pre-tied ties, etcetera etcetera.

Next up, and this is more of just a little comment, but how, exactly, is it that there are so many people who don't even know about Hot Topic? It's become a nationwide phenomenon (unfortunately).

Being that it is now so widely known, people should be informed: Hot Topic is a mainstream, mall-chain based clothing shop that merely tries to sell off the goth, punk, emo, etc. cultures and subcultures. Not only is just about everything extremely overpriced, basically all of the clothes are now rip offs. I guarantee, if you walked around the mall long enough (for a mere few hours, no less), you will most likely find two people either wearing the same pants, or wearing the same shirt.

How is Hot Topic a 'prep' area? It is more of a... Goth/punk/emo-in-training area. Watch, everyone, as the young teens of angsty disposition and rageful views finally burst from their cocoons to realize- *gasp!* Hot Topic isn't quite as authentic as it seemed!!!

I suggest to everyone who has ever bought anything from Hot Topic immediately run to your closet, break out with the scissors, safety pins, sewing kit, etc., and start customizing your clothes. Really. Yes, it was a very annoying process for me, too, when I had to explain to my mother exactly why I had totally mutilated the stupid $50 pants that I had gotten from that wretched store of ill-gotten puke.

Oh yes, and, as a closing note, to all those goth/punk/emo-in-trainings, it doesn't get any easier from here! Nope, now you have to deal with people that don't accept you, trying to actually find clothes that aren't some cheap rip-off of the alternative cultures (oh, and trust me, everything is terribly expensive- everywhere. Interpunk, Dogpile, Lip Service, and even Angry Young and Poor [I found it extremely funny that when I was browsing the website, I found another vile pair $60 pants])- oh, and you have to realize what brand is real goth/punk/emo, and which ones are just cashing in on your new lifestyle!!!

Have Fun.

i know what hot topics is. i used to buy stuff there all the time, but now its too mainstream, and uh i dont like there pants anymore. so i just buy stuff like posters and pins and stuff... that doesnt matter.

...well, i don't see how hot topic is scary. but i really don't like it. people who normally shop there (most) are all like "ooh look at me i'm different cause i shop at hot topic" when really they're all the same.

Do you guys realise Hot Topic and hilister are run by the same company that owns abercrombie? They're all just stores. Hot Topic isn't anything special.

Awesome store!!! LOVE IT!!! I mean, I've only bought like shoe laces there and underwear lol... a few wristbands. But, its not really my style but that have some awesome stuff!!!! And some really good music!!!

er, they just have a lot of rock and gothic ..stuff. or something. i dont go there often since people who work their sort of creep me out

hot topic is for poseurs. who want to be gothic..but they just cant seem to get there.

I go to Hot Topic all the time. I love their corsets and jewlery.

honestly...it's sorta creepy in there..ahh

well, some of it is okay.

i think the place is pretty neat, cept i never bought anything from there b4.

hot topic been their so punky it creeps me out [no offence to punk ppl] my friend loves hot topic so i go with her everythings black there!

Are you kidding me? Hot Topic is one of the coolest stores (for me) you can go into!

Errrhm. Hot Topic tries really really really hard to attract "punks," "hardcore people," and "goths." It's really expensive and personally the stuff is ugly but some stuff is nice. Go to the website.

I really like their earrings and stuff. They have some cute shirts sometimes. I've only seen clothing I like uhm twice. Usually I like the earrings.

duh. everyone knows what hot topic is.
i <3 their stuff they sell. its so random. they have foamy stuff, anime stufff, rocker stuff, napolean dymnamite stuff... its all kinda my style.
and i <3 all their jewelry!

i've heard of it but i wouldn't buy that stuff cuz it's not my style

nice store.... usually buy my shirts there

hot topic is where avril lavigne most likely buys all of her clothing. the workers arent scary, they're actually really nice if you go in and talk to them. just because they dress differently, dye their hair etc, it doesn't mean they're mean.
just go in and find out yourself.

o.O

Yes i heard of hot topic they have some cool things in there, but i'm not really into that store or that kinda apparel.

Ah, Hot Topic... where would I be without all that I have taken from you... from my kickbutt shirt to my comfy armwarmers... I go in, read t-shirts, look at posters, poke at pants I can't afford, and buy some earrings. The fun thing about Hot Topic that the people that accuse me of poser-ness aren't punks at all. *shrug*

its mainly goth and punk or rocker clothes. they have really cool buttons !

but they also have really cool shirts, like one from napolean dynamite. its an old store over here. basic things are forever 21 charlotte russe papaya and such. hot topic is a spreading across the us isnt it ?

im scared i'll burst into flames if i go into that store but its hilarious cuz its right next to a maternity store

it's a gothic store. not very into it myself

they might of gotten it from the fact that abercrombie owns hot topic. yes two COMPLETLY diffrent stores. i personally am freaked by hot topic, but i luv a&f

So true. sheesh I shop there. I got my tripp pants there they are awesome. Good store

ehh, i don't really go there. it kind of smells..interesting.

of course i've heard of hot topic. lol my friends shop there all the time to get their jelly bracelets or other jewelry. its a sort of goth/punk-ish store. i don't shop there though. :|

yes i heard of hot topic, that store seems to be very popular

i love hot topic! but i'm always afraid to buy stuff there bcuz the ppl scare me lol

YEahhhh ..i haaaaaave heard of it ...o_O haha

what about it ??

it's a clothes/accessories store for more of the "punk" style people that are into the bands haha

they have cute earrings ..lol but they're not my styel.e

yahhh.it's a gothic/ punkish type of store but they sell some cute stuff too. like those thick shoelaces or landyard (sp?) and funny funny magnets. i laugh whenever i read those and people look at me like im retarded. but it's okay

i dont really go there because i dont really like their clothes there. but my sister goes there a lot....

I've been in there. Yes, it's technically a 'goth store' (ugh I hate how goths are labeled by how they dress...) but my friend has gotten stuff there that looks totally preppy and all. It's not scary...unless you're intimidated by beeotchy people and the color black and chains.

yeah i think it`s more of a gothicy punkish place.. i went in there once and saw napoleon dynamite stuff and happy bunny stuff 2 though.. but the rest of their stuff`s pretty dark

Hot Topic is pretty much on the dark side... as in for punk, rebel, gothic, hardcore stereotypes. theyve got studs, creepy dolls, stud earrings, skeletons, shoes laces, band/stupid saying tshirts, 5-inch shoes, bullet belts, yakno all that stuff.

never heard of it

I've heard of that store when I was on vacation once but that's about all I know. I've never been there.

yea...i have a few invader zim/gir stuff from there i usually get shoelaces and patches from there...

I only shop at Hot Topic.

im too afraid to go in
and i try to walk on the other side of the mall when i walk past it

Hot Topic, normal store for ur everyday wannabe. (:
& core ppl work there... poor core ppl. LOL
It's just a regular store...

they have sum pretty cool It's Happy Bunny stuff in there but then again you're right its kinda creepy

It's not Gothic...Sure, they have a few Gothic cds, but they're more into diff. genres of music there. Oh yeah, && those parachute pants? It's still not Gothic... It just looks pretty dark, but, it's just another store in malls. I like buying t-shirts there. >_< I go there all the time because I only shop there && Target. Heh, I'm cheap. I feel like a poser when I step into that store because all the other kids are so scene, but, I don't give a shit.

That place does kind of scare me, but i like it there. They have some nice clothes i would like to wear. Not too bad there.

Been there, but I don't shop their personally, but I get gifts for friends there all the time.

i like hot topic. i usually just buy jewelry or shoelaces there. basically accessories. but, i do like the t-shirts there. the salespeople are really nice in my area o_o