Spencer Spirit Holdings acquires Hot Topic and related brands from Sycamore Partners

Spencer Spirit Holdings bought Hot Topic, BoxLunch, and Her Universe in early September 2026. The seller was Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm that had owned Hot Topic since 2013. The price was not made public. Spencer Spirit is the parent company of Spirit Halloween, which runs around 1,550 stores across the country. Spirit Halloween is famous for its pop-up shops that open before Halloween and close shortly after. Hot Topic sells alternative and pop culture products in shopping malls. CEO Steven Silverstein will now oversee all three newly acquired brands alongside the existing Spencer Spirit business. The deal was first announced in August 2026 and completed just weeks later. Sycamore Partners originally paid about $600 million for Hot Topic thirteen years ago.