Xibei denies complete closure rumors after viral Weibo post claims shutdown within months
On September 19, a Weibo rumor claimed Xibei, China’s top formal dining chain for eleven years, would close entirely within two to three months, with founder Jia Guolong assuming debts and retaining about 100 stores for employee operation. The post alleged over 10,000 layoffs and 200+ store closures. Xibei’s customer service denied the claims, stating all stores nationwide are operating normally. The rumor follows a 2025 pre-made food controversy and confirmed 102 store closures in early 2026.
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Cross-source coverage
Common ground
- Both sides agree that Xibei closed 102 stores, as confirmed by the company's founder.
- Both acknowledge that the pre-made dish controversy in 2025 damaged consumer trust to some degree.
- Both agree that Western media has biases and sometimes amplifies negative stories about Chinese brands.
- Both recognize that employee self-operation models exist in Chinese catering, though they disagree on what they signal.
Points of contention
- Eastern Agent sees the 30% store closure as strategic right-sizing, while Neutral Agent views it as a sign of financial distress.
- Eastern Agent says the customer service denial is sufficient, but Neutral Agent argues it's too vague and should come from senior leadership.
- Eastern Agent believes the burden of proof is on rumor-mongers, while Neutral Agent says the company should provide more transparency given its own confirmed downsizing.
- Eastern Agent calls the employee self-operation model an innovative incentive, while Neutral Agent sees it as a last-resort cash preservation strategy.
Blind spots
- Eastern Agent overlooks that a company can be both strategically adapting and under financial pressure at the same time.
- Neutral Agent underestimates how geopolitical timing can fuel exaggerated narratives about Chinese brands.
- Both sides fail to address what specific data would actually settle the debate—like current store count or revenue trends—and why that data isn't available.
- Neither side considers that the rumor might be partially true in some details but false in others, which is a common outcome in such cases.
WorldAttention’s read
This debate boils down to a fundamental disagreement about how much transparency a private company owes the public when facing a rumor. Eastern Agent argues that Xibei's denial should be trusted unless proven false, and that the 102-store closure is a normal business adjustment. Neutral Agent counters that the closure is a major contraction, the denial is weak, and the company's silence on key details makes skepticism reasonable. Both sides agree Western media has biases, but they disagree on whether that context excuses the company from providing more information. Ultimately, the truth likely lies somewhere in between: Xibei is probably under real financial pressure, but the rumor likely exaggerates the scale of the problem. Without concrete data from the company, neither side can fully prove their case.
Reporting timeline
Xibei Denies Complete Closure Rumors, Says All Stores Operating Normally
On September 19, a rumor trended on Weibo claiming that Chinese restaurant chain Xibei would completely shut down within two to three months, with founder Jia Guolong personally assuming most debts and retaining only over 100 profitable stores for employee operation. Xibei responded to Red Star Capital Bureau, stating the content is not an official statement and that all nationwide stores are currently operating normally. The company reiterated its direct-operation internal partnership model has remained unchanged. The rumor follows a public opinion crisis in September 2025 when Luo Yonghao criticized Xibei for serving 'almost entirely pre-made dishes.' Founder Jia Guolong denied this and opened kitchens to public visits, but the move backfired. Customer traffic and revenue subsequently declined. In January 2026, Jia confirmed to media that Xibei would close 102 stores, approximately 30% of its total outlets.
Read sourceXibei Closure Rumors Debunked by Customer Service; All Stores Operating Normally
A rumor that Chinese restaurant chain Xibei is on the verge of complete closure has gone viral on Weibo. Blogger 'Liji' claimed that Xibei, the top Chinese formal dining brand for eleven consecutive years, would shut down within two to three months. The post alleged that founder Jia Guolong would personally assume most debts, relinquish his equity, and retain only about 100 profitable stores for employee operation, while over 10,000 employees have been forced into unemployment and over 200 stores have already closed. In response, Xibei customer service denied the claims, stating that all stores nationwide are currently operating normally. They reaffirmed their commitment to delivering high-quality products and services and urged the public to view online information rationally. The report is based on Blue Whale News and was published by Jin10 Data on September 19.
Read sourceXibei Closure Rumors Denied by Customer Service; All Stores Operating Normally
A rumor that Chinese restaurant chain Xibei is facing complete closure within two to three months trended on Weibo, based on a post by blogger 'Liji.' The post claimed founder Jia Guolong would assume most debts, relinquish equity, and retain only about 100 profitable stores for employee self-operation, affecting 3,000 to 4,000 people. It also alleged over 10,000 employees have been laid off and more than 200 stores closed. In response, Xibei's customer service denied the rumors, stating that all stores nationwide are currently operating normally. They urged the public to view online information rationally and reaffirmed their commitment to quality products and services. The report is attributed to Blue Whale News via Cailian Press.
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Xibei Rumored to Close Completely in Months; Customer Service Denies, Says Stores Operating Normally
On September 19, a rumor that Chinese restaurant chain Xibei would 'completely close down' within two to three months trended on Weibo, attributed to blogger 'Liji.' The blogger claimed founder Jia Guolong would personally assume most debts, relinquish equity, and retain only about 100 profitable stores for employee operation, while over 10,000 employees had been laid off and more than 200 stores closed. In response, Xibei customer service told Blue Whale News that all stores nationwide are operating normally and urged the public to view online information rationally. The company had previously confirmed plans to close 102 stores in January, affecting about 4,000 employees. Additionally, on September 17, some locations of Xibei's new brand 'Tianbian Clay Pot Braised Noodles' suspended operations, which Xibei attributed to individual store planning adjustments, stating other stores remain open.
Read sourceXibei Closure Rumor Trends Online; Customer Service Says All Stores Operating Normally
On September 19, the topic 'Xibei Will Completely Go Out of Business' trended on Weibo, sparked by a post from blogger 'Liji' claiming the top Chinese formal dining brand would shut down within two to three months. The post alleged the founder would assume most debts, relinquish equity, and retain only about 100 profitable stores for employee operation, with over 10,000 employees forced into unemployment and more than 200 stores already closed. In response, Xibei's customer service told reporters that all stores nationwide are currently operating normally. They stated the company remains committed to delivering high-quality products and services and urged the public to view online information rationally. The report, sourced from Blue Whale News and published by Tencent News, highlights the rapid spread of unverified claims on social media and the company's swift denial.
Read sourceRumor: Xibei to Close All Stores; Company Denies, Says Operations Normal
On September 19, the topic 'Xibei reported to be completely shutting down' trended on Weibo. According to a post by blogger 'Liji,' Xibei, which has held the top position in Chinese formal dining for eleven years, will completely close within two to three months. The post claims founder Jia Guolong will personally assume most debts, relinquish his equity, and retain only about 100 profitable stores for employees to operate independently, aiming to sustain livelihoods for 3,000 to 4,000 people. It also states that over 10,000 employees have been forced into unemployment and more than 200 stores have already closed. In response, reporters contacted Xibei's customer service, who stated that all stores nationwide are currently operating normally. The company emphasized its commitment to providing high-quality products and services and urged the public to view online information rationally. The report is sourced from Blue Whale News.
Read sourceXibei, Top Chinese Dining Chain, Reportedly to Shut Down Completely Within Months
On September 19, influential social media account 'Li Ji' claimed that Xibei, China's top formal dining brand for eleven consecutive years, would completely shut down within two to three months. The rumor, which quickly trended on Weibo, alleges that founder Jia Guolong would assume most debts, relinquish equity, and hand over about 100 profitable stores to employees for self-operation to sustain 3,000-4,000 jobs. The leak states that over 10,000 employees have already been laid off and more than 200 stores closed. The crisis reportedly began in September 2025 after posts accused Xibei dishes of using unspecified ingredients, triggering public backlash. Despite rescue attempts, financial conditions worsened, leading to the closure of 102 stores in January 2026 and Jia Guolong stepping down as CEO. Xibei has not issued an official response to the closure rumors.
Read sourceXibei Bankruptcy Rumor Denied by Customer Service; Losses and Store Closures Reported
On September 19, a rumor circulated on Weibo claiming that Xibei, a leading Chinese formal dining chain, would completely close within two to three months, with founder Jia Guolong personally assuming most debts and retaining only about 100 profitable stores. The rumor, posted by blogger 'Liji,' alleged over 10,000 employees had been forced into unemployment and more than 200 stores closed. In response, Xibei's customer service told Blue Whale News that all stores nationwide are operating normally and urged the public to view online information rationally. The article notes that in September 2025, Xibei faced a 'pre-made food controversy,' which Jia Guolong called the company's biggest external crisis. Following that controversy, foot traffic plummeted, and from September 2025 to March 2026, Xibei accumulated losses exceeding 600 million yuan. To cope, Xibei closed 102 stores (about 30% of its total) in the first quarter of 2026. Data from Zhaomen Canyan shows 226 operating stores as of September 10.
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