What's the Hot Topic? "Everything About the Music," according to this teen-focused web and mall-based retailer. Hot Topic's 800-plus stores in the US and Canada sell rock-inspired clothing and accessories in settings resembling the industrial clubs where kids (ages 12 to 22) rock out. It also runs more than 200 Torrid shops offering apparel and accessories for plus-sized females (as old as 30!). Though focused on selling licensed concert apparel from current and classic rockers including Iron Maiden, Nirvana, and Metallica, Hot Topic also sells tees celebrating pop culture and trendy apparel that appeals to various musical subcultures. Hot Topic is owned by private equity firm Sycamore Partners.