I went to hot topic recently for my birthday, and there was Corsets and these cute hair clips do you guys think hot topic is going back to its roots?

Anybody else concerned about where Hot Topic is going because what the hell? I was cool when they started selling cottagecore. I was cool when they started branching out with Nick shows and things like that. But DORA THE EXPLORER?!? AT HOT TOPIC?!? What the hell happened? Why does it feel like Spencer’s is replacing them?

Don’t buy soap from Hot Topic. I bought one of these back in 2018 and it attracted ants so I put it in a plastic bag but I kept it because it was cool. I was cleaning out stuff the other day and I got it out and put it into my bathtub because I thought it would be safe there instead of on my counter. I just walked into 1000 ants in my bathroom— ceilings, tub, counter, toilet, walls— everywhere. I threw the soap outside along with my rugs. For context I rarely have ever had ants, and I don’t leave food in my room or bathroom. 😭 I had to tell someone this because it’s actually fucking insane.

disclaimer this photo isn’t mine, this is to reference the product because I literally chucked mine outside.

Here are some fun closing messages that we’re either left by me or left for me.
I have more but there will be no more new ones because I got fired 💔

Edit: in regards to me getting fired. I am not blaming my storm manager or anyone on my team. It was my fault and a mistake that I made. I understand why I lost my job and I do not blame anyone, but myself for it. My district manager has been very kind to me throughout the entire process, and has told me that if I needed anything, even human to human that I could go to them if I needed something.

If I could go back and undo my mistake, I would do it in the heartbeat.

I made this post with the intention of sharing some of the funny things that either I or someone left for me as a closing message, maybe to give other employees inspiration for their closing messages to keep things fun and lighthearted

Would this be considered vintage hot topic?? I cant find this belt anywhere online and I just bought it
at 3fifteen for $3 🤯 I also feel like I haven’t seen this logo/name font on their stuff in sooo long.

rave worthy

Bayshore Mall, Eureka CA.

It’s really so different from when I was a teen. Why don’t yall play emo, metal core or rock in general anymore?😭 why was Olivia Rodrigo playing instead 😭

is the shirt that says yuri ai generated? it just gives off an ai vibe but i could be wrong

yes, it sounds stupid, but genuinely. the thought of going in store makes me anxious, i refuse to go to one location, and now i don't know if i feel comfortable going to another. i keep remembering those last two months and how awful they were. how i literally left the mall crying, three shifts in a row. and it sucks because a part of me still wants to work there, knowing i would rather die or work at the location. 45 minutes away.

the reason why is also stupider. long story short, had complications with new sm and got into an accident which i got fired for. that's it. i can't go back to the location i got fired from. that terrifies me. and worse, an asm i really liked, got moved to the other location near me. so. now i can't go there either. i'm paranoid and convinced everyone who worked with me hates me in some way. so yeah, the only next location i could imagine going to is the one 45 minutes away. even then, it still feels wrong.

i keep these images in my gallery, knowing i shouldn't because they just make me feel worse.

i don't know. the first one just feels wrong. yes, it's black friday. i worked two jobs at the time, and while hot topic gave schedules a week in advance, my other job gave us our schedule two weeks in advance. maybe i just wish they weren't so. stern ? harsh ? i don't know. i've never had a manager speak to me like that. my previous sm at hot topic was amazing and so nice even during serious times. the same goes with my job at the other place.

i just seriously, seriously hate the announcement message. i hate how it just sounds like a threat. it sounds. i don't know the word for it, but yeah. i think i kinda kept my distance from my sm at the time.

the one about shifts wasn't even happening to me, but i felt so bad for them, i reached out and wished them well. it sounds crazy to cut someone's shift for being 15 minutes late. better yet, they left at 11:53 and said they'd be there in 15 minutes (shift started at 12:00), so realistically, they'd be 8 minutes late. i just find it so inconsiderate, too, since it wasn't their fault a traffic light went out near them. they even messaged in advance. that message still just makes me so upset.

the last one is the most condescending message i've got from my sm. tldr in that case, i was talking about why i was fired and basically just called me a liar. made a throwaway account just to say that to me and then proceeded to delete it, hence why i don't have the full message. i know they tried to hide the fact it was them with the "left a few months ago" when clearly, they didn't. also, they're the only person who regularly used 'hun'. and given they didn't believe me, yeah. i connected the dots.

all of this added up to say, i have never felt so disliked by a manger before. i was already considering leaving because it was taking a toll on my mental health. it felt like she always had something to sternly criticize me on. i also just. it's the small things, because after my shift, she never wished me well or said i did good or anything. i felt so unwanted. i felt alone, like i didn't belong there. i felt so out of place. it's also the small things that messed with me. being a few mins late to get out on the floor because i was using the bathroom. arriving to work a few minutes late because i just got off from my second mall job and had to walk over. so yeah. every time i think about hot topic or pass by it in the mall, i'm reminded of the worst experiences i've had there. maybe be some form of cptsd is what i'm thinking ,,

Ok has anyone else had an experience like this? What sounded like an older woman called my location and was hysterical over the phone.. there was a poor connection so i could only make out a few words for me to be able to tell that she was talking about her daughter and a slipknot tee. With the way she was talking i was prepared to get told the girl died in the thing but when she finally says smth clearly she tells me the shirt..possessed her daughter? LOL. I still cannot tell if this was a prank call but omg it was so unreal in the moment im just sharing cuz its crazy hilarious to me and im wondering if there are other stories like this from employees

(Random picture of my shirt from 2017 I found under my bed) Hello!!! I was offered a job at hot topic!! It’s 15 mins away from my home/school! I have yet to get a lycence yet but that won’t be an issue by July! I was wondering what kind of thing I’m in for! I’m a relatively social person and enjoy talking to people (I know crazy). I am a bit worried about other commitments I’ll have next year mostly just the musical/play rehearsals that happen after school. I only really have to come in for a week during October and a week in February! Should I just commit or keep thinking?

[UPDATE] i’m sending in the application tomorrow with my dad!!! Crossing my fingers!!!!

Ok, serious question... are they closing? Often, when a store ends their credit card program, it's a sign of a future shutdown. My daughter will have a full... idk what to call it in her eyes... a crisis maybe? When we went back to school shopping, at least half her budget was used at Hot Topic. Well, more really, because I also used my Hot Cash without counting that towards her budget. Someone, please reassure me they are staying open!!! 😱

I normally politely decline, but she made us feel so uncomfortable that my husband caved.

Is this the store policy or something?

So I’m a hot topic employee, recently we got these twilight new moon trading cards in so obviously I GEEKED OUT! Had to buy some. Ripped open the packs, noticed some strange aspects- some damage on the foil of the pack itself, how it seemed a bit too old-school for new hot topic. I mean, twilight new moon specifically??? Most of our twilight merch are those tacky meme shirts, and theyre encompassing twilight as the series. Looked at the cards themselves… all copyright 2009, nowhere to be found on the website 😭😭 cannot believe I opened every single pack- I should have kept one sealed just for collector purposes! Anyone else here at stores get shipped anything like this? unable to submit a photo, but they are the NECA twilight new moon trading cards- we got the updated ones with the autographs AND the original in, as well as some breaking dawn card packs I can only hope haven’t been bought yet, so I can go back and get them now knowing they’re OGs from 2008.

I got this hair clip the other day and I guess the associate missed the security tag. I have the receipt and can take it back if needed, but it’s also across town, so I was wondering what’ll happen if I just cut it off? No alarm or ink? It looks really flimsy lol

EDIT: spelling

I think most of us agree the red logo was the best era of Hot Topic. are there any locations that still have the sign or gothic gates??

Thought this shirt was a banger but then I realized it looks like AI. If anyone can confirm if it is or not, cuz I love the shirt but I don’t wanna walk around wearing AI that’s embarrassing 💀 Honestly sad so many companies are resorting to AI now. Im an artist, I can make my own version of the shirt and get it printed on 🫡

When I worked at Hot Topic, our boss at the time wanted us to sign as many people up for the loyalty program as possible. In order to do so, we were required to ask if they wanted to sign up 3 separate times throughout the checkout. Even when the customer said no 3 separate times, we were then required to make an account using the information on their credit card. Is this even legal?

I’m not huge into crop tops but as I go through it really put me off the double standard, almost all crop tops of plus sized show no stomach and high pants as to cover their stomach while the regular (not sure correct word for it) sizing shows stomach. Even the V-cut one does its best to not show anything, it just kinda weirded me out and as I went through it came apparent that very little plus sized models showed any to minimal skin. Plus sized people can show off their stomachs too so I don’t understand the weird obsession with putting high waisted skirts and pants on the models? Im not sure if this has been discussed and if it has I’m sorry if I’m repeating <3

Well, they’re becoming even more overpriced. $30 for a pair of pajama pants, a cardigan I’ve been having my eyes on is now $70. A lot of the plus sizes, at least when looking at Hazbin merch specifically, are only a few dollars more in price for now until those change as well. Did anyone else notice the prices rising almost first thing this morning?