Editing Hot Topic (section)

==History==

The first Hot Topic store was opened in November 1989 in [[Montclair Plaza]], [[Montclair, California]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://history.hottopic.com/november-1989-our-second-store-opens-in-montclair-ca-and-we-move-our-headquarters-into-the-stores-backroom/|title=NOVEMBER, 1989 // First store opens in Montclair, CA – and we move our headquarters into the store's of Hot Topic|website=history.hottopic.com|date=November 1989|access-date=2017-08-12|archive-date=2017-08-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812172913/http://history.hottopic.com/november-1989-our-second-store-opens-in-montclair-ca-and-we-move-our-headquarters-into-the-stores-backroom/|url-status=live}}</ref> by Orv Madden, a former executive at [[The Children's Place]], who retired as CEO in 2000 and was replaced by [[Betsy McLaughlin]], who headed the company until 2011.  Lisa Harper assumed the position of CEO in March 2011 until Steve Vranes was announced as the new CEO in 2016. The company went public and began trading on [[NASDAQ]] in 1996.

In 2013, Hot Topic announced its sale to [[private equity]] firm [[Sycamore Partners]] for $600 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/03/07/sycamore-partners-to-buy-hot-topic-for-600-million/|title=Sycamore Partners to Buy Hot Topic for $600 Million|first=Michael J. de la|last=Merced|website=DealBook|date=7 March 2013|access-date=5 March 2017|archive-date=11 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211161206/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/03/07/sycamore-partners-to-buy-hot-topic-for-600-million/|url-status=live}}</ref> The company ceased publishing financial data after 2013, as previously required as a public company.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 22, 2013 |title=Form 10-K Filing Hot Topic Fiscal Year ending February 2013 |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1017712/000115752313001515/a50590453.htm#item6 |access-date=August 16, 2023 |website=SEC |archive-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816235400/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1017712/000115752313001515/a50590453.htm#item6 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=EDGAR Entity Landing Page |url=https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=1017712 |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=www.sec.gov}}</ref>

In 2024, Hot Topic was the subject of what cybersecurity firm Hudson Rock labeled the "largest retail data breach in history," involving the theft of personal data belonging to 350 million customers of Hot Topic, Box Lunch, and Torrid, with the stolen data reportedly including names, emails, addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, and partial credit card numbers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gal |first=Alon |date=2024-10-23 |title=Largest Retail Breach in History: 350 Million "Hot Topic" Customers' Personal & Payment Data Exposed — As a Result of Infostealer Infection |url=https://www.infostealers.com/article/largest-retail-breach-in-history-350-million-hot-topic-customers-personal-and-payment-data-exposed-as-a-result-of-infostealer-infection/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241105005411/https://www.infostealers.com/article/largest-retail-breach-in-history-350-million-hot-topic-customers-personal-and-payment-data-exposed-as-a-result-of-infostealer-infection/ |archive-date=2024-11-05 |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=InfoStealers |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fadilpašić |first=Sead |date=2024-10-24 |title=Millions of Hot Topic shoppers have data stolen by "Satanic" hacker |url=https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/millions-of-hot-topic-shoppers-have-data-stolen-by-satanic-hacker |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241105005115/https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/millions-of-hot-topic-shoppers-have-data-stolen-by-satanic-hacker |archive-date=2024-11-05 |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=[[TechRadar]] |language=en}}</ref>