Yelp Inc. to expand in Chicago, bring 300 jobs

San Francisco-based Yelp Inc. plans to open a new office at Chicago's Merchandise Mart next year.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman announced the planned expansion Thursday. The online review site expects to hire up to 300 people in Chicago during the next 18 months. Most of the jobs will be in sales.

Chicago will become the seventh city where Yelp has an office. Yelp has signed a lease for more than 50,000 square feet at the Merchandise Mart, a massive office building on the Chicago River that's become a hub for tech startups.

Yelp makes money from advertisements on its website and app. Many of the ads are from the local businesses that users are reviewing, including restaurants, bars, bakeries, hospitals and hair salons.