THE LOOP — As the Pokémon Go frenzy continues to sweep the world, catching 'em all became just a little easier — and tastier — thanks to Yelp's new PokéStop filter.
The new feature within the restaurant directory and review app allows hungry Pokémon trainers to filter the results of nearby eateries to display restaurants and bars that have been designated as PokéStops in the mobile game's augmented reality.
So why is this such a cool feature for Pokémon aficionados?
Well, in the virtual world of Pokémon Go, PokéStops are locations where players can collect items such as Poké balls and eggs, sort of like a recharging booth or a gas station. Players can also buy and install "Lure Modules" at PokéStops to attract nearby Pokémons to flock to the area for half an hour — a perfect opportunity for hungry diners to sit down at a restaurant and dig into a dish while waiting for Squirtle to show up.
So by pressing the "PokéStop Nearby" button on Yelp's mobile app or desktop website, users can decide which taco place in the Loop would be the best place to fill their tummys and stock up on items and Pokémons. Additionally, Yelp is asking users to crowdsource businesses that aren't yet registered in the app's directory as PokéStops.
Yelp's fresh feature seems to be only the beginning of the booming side economy of Pokémon Go. From T-Mobile offering unlimited data for Pokémon Go to local eateries like Yusho in Logan Square cooking up special Pokémon-themed dishes, businesses are scrambling to come up with new strategies to benefit from the game's success and popularity.
John Hanke, CEO of the software development company Niantic behind Pokémon Go, recently told the Financial Times that restaurants and and retailers could soon sponsor locations in the app's virtual reality on a cost-per-visit basis.
The PokéStop filter is available on all iOS and Android devices in the United States, Austrailia and New Zealand.
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