Yep, Yelp is opening a Chicago office

Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman at the company’s HQ in San Francisco. | AP photo/Eric Risberg

Yelp on Thursday confirmed reports that it signed a lease for more than 50,000 square feet in the Merchandise Mart.

The San Francisco-based business reviews site also said it will hire up to 300 people in Chicago in the next 12 to 18 months. Most of those jobs will be in sales.

“We’re thrilled to announce that Yelp will be opening a new office in Chicago, bringing hundreds of jobs to the Windy City,” Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman said in a news release. “This vibrant metropolis is an ideal location to source talented new employees and connect with even more great local businesses.”

The new office, Yelp’s seventh, is expected to be ready in January. The Merchandise Mart is home to other tech companies like Motorola Mobility, Braintree and the 1871 startup hub.

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