# Xi Bei

A Founder’s Fight with Public Perception: Why Xi Bei’s 102 Store Closures Are More Than an Influencer Feud

Xi Bei will close 102 stores and lay off about 4,000 workers as it faces over RMB 600 million in projected losses, a crisis compounded by a public feud between founder Jia Guolong and influencer Luo Yonghao. The dispute highlights how consumer perceptions, amplified online, can inflict severe damage on dining chains already facing a broad consumption downturn and dimming IPO prospects.