Hot Topic

• Store 537
• Categories: All Stores , Men's Fashion , Women's Fashions
• Telephone: 813-643-0869
• Web: Visit Hot Topic now

• Level 1
• For easiest access park near the Food Court

General Information

It all started in 1988. Guns N' Roses, Def Leppard and Bon Jovi were #1 on the charts, and hair scrunchies, bolo ties and aviator sunglasses were everywhere. A ton of junior accessory and apparel chain stores filled shopping malls, but there wasn't a cool accessory store for both guys and girls. Then came Hot Topic. In the fall of 1989, Hot Topic opened its doors in Westminster, California. We'd love to tell you it was a huge success, with hundreds of teens clawing their way into the store, but we'd be lying. Sales were disappointing. Some days we barely made a hundred bucks. Was founder Orv Madden's vision doomed? It was time to take a step back and re-evaluate. First, our location in the mall wasn't the best. How the heck could we sell anything if nobody could find us? Then we looked at what was selling-costume jewelry. We started buying more stuff like cross necklaces, unisex earrings and leather bracelets and got rid of hair scrunchies, men's ties and dress socks. Hot Topic found a niche and its name was music-influenced accessories. Whether it was fingerless gloves like Billy Idol or glam metal bootstraps like Poison, music was definitely the driving force behind teen fashion. After our Westminster customers gave us a reality check, we packed our bags, moved to Montclair, California and rocked their mall with the first Hot Topic store to carry all music-influenced accessories for teens.