8-K

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
     Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


          Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 8, 2003
                                                           -----------

                                 HOT TOPIC, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


         California                 0-28784                    77-0198182
         -----------                -------                    ----------
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)       (IRS Employer
       of incorporation)                                    Identification No.)


18305 E. San Jose Avenue, City of Industry, California         91748
- ------------------------------------------------------         -----
    (Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)



        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (626) 839-4681


           ----------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)






Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

         Exhibit No.       Description

               99.1        Press Release dated May 7, 2003


Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure.

The information contained in this Item 9 of this Current Report is being
furnished pursuant to "Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition"
of Form 8-K, in accordance with the Securities Exchange Commission's Release
Nos. 33-8216 and 34-47583.

The information in this Current Report is being furnished and shall not be
deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that
Section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under
the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, regardless of any general
incorporation language in such filing.

Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is a copy of a press release that Hot Topic,
Inc. issued on May 7, 2003 reporting, among other things, its sales for the
fiscal first quarter of 2003 (quarter ended May 3, 2003).

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                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                  Hot Topic, Inc.


                                  /s/ James McGinty
                                  -----------------
                                  James McGinty
                                  Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

                                  May 8, 2003


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EX-99

                                                                  Exhibit 99.1

Hot Topic, Inc. Reports 9.0% April 2003 Comp Sales Increase; First
Quarter Comp Sales Increased 2.6%

    CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 7, 2003--Hot Topic,
Inc.(Nasdaq:HOTT), a mall-based specialty retailer of music-licensed
and music-influenced apparel, accessories and gift items for teens,
announced net sales for fiscal April 2003 (four weeks ended May 3,
2003) increased 33% to $32.4 million from net sales of $24.4 million
for fiscal April 2002. Same store sales for the four weeks ended May
3, 2003, increased by 9.0% compared to the corresponding four weeks
last year. Last year, April same store sales decreased by 2.0%
compared with fiscal April 2001. Eight new Hot Topic stores, including
the Company's first location in Alaska, and two new Torrid stores were
opened in April 2003.
    Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2003 (13 weeks ended May
3, 2003) were $100.6 million, an increase of 26% over sales of $79.9
million for the same period of fiscal 2002. Same store sales for the
first 13 weeks of fiscal 2003 increased 2.6% compared to the first 13
weeks of fiscal 2002. Last year, same store sales for the first 13
weeks of fiscal 2002 decreased 0.5% compared with the corresponding
period in fiscal 2001. Sixteen new Hot Topic and seven new Torrid
stores were opened during the first quarter of fiscal 2003.
    Betsy McLaughlin, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We
are pleased with our first quarter and Spring Break sales. As
expected, the week leading up to Easter was the biggest sales week in
the quarter. Comp sales were positive in each week of fiscal April. We
continue to expect first quarter earnings to be $0.13 per diluted
share, as compared to $0.11 last year, an increase of approximately
18%."
    For more detailed information on April sales results, you can call
626/771-0006 to listen to a recorded commentary.
    The Company expects to issue a news release to report full
financial results for the first quarter ended May 3, 2003, after
market close on Wednesday, May 21, 2003. A conference call to discuss
first quarter results, business trends, and other matters will be
conducted at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time on May 21, 2003. The conference
call number is 800/231-5571, and will be accessible to all interested
parties. It will also be webcast at www.streetevents.com. A replay
will be available at 973/341-3080, pass code 3265628, and at
www.streetevents.com.
    Hot Topic, Inc. is a national mall-based specialty retailer of
music-licensed and music-influenced apparel, accessories and gift
items for young men and women principally between the ages of 12 and
22. Torrid, the Company's second concept, is a mall-based specialty
retailer of plus-sized fashion-forward apparel and accessories that
targets young women principally between the ages of 15 and 29. The
Company currently operates 434 Hot Topic stores in 49 states
throughout the United States, 34 Torrid stores and Internet stores
www.hottopic.com and www.torrid.com.

    Except for the historical information contained herein, this news
release contains forward-looking statements, including statements
relating to financial results, projections and other financial
performance, and managing growth. These statements involve risks and
uncertainties, including risks and uncertainties associated with
meeting expected financial results, management of growth,
relationships with mall developers and operators, the risk that
available cash or mall space will not be adequate for planned
expansion, fluctuations in sales and comparable store sales results,
risks and uncertainties with respect to new store openings including
risks associated with the Company's new store concepts and Internet
stores, music and fashion trends, competition from other retailers,
uncertainties generally associated with specialty retailing, the
effect of economic conditions, the effect of severe weather or natural
disasters, political and/or social changes or events that could
negatively impact shopping patterns and/or mall traffic as well as
other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports,
including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February
1, 2003. The historical results achieved are not necessarily
indicative of the future prospects of the Company.

    CONTACT: Hot Topic, Inc.
             Jay A. Johnson, 626/839-4681 ext. 2269
             jjohnson@hottopic.com