Downtown Victoria · Launching December 2026
Phone charging stations in Victoria bars
Charged YYJ is bringing self-serve phone charging stations to bars and venues in downtown Victoria, BC. Each one holds charged power banks that guests can rent with a few taps on their own phone and take with them.
What the station looks like
The station is a compact countertop unit built for a busy bar. It has eight slots for power banks and a 10.1-inch screen on the front. The screen shows the QR code you scan to rent, so there's nothing for staff to explain and no card reader to tap.
- Power bank slots8
- Screen10.1-inch
- PlacementCountertop
- PowerOne regular 120 V outlet
- Rental price$9 flat, PST included
It plugs into one regular 120 V wall outlet. There's no wiring, drilling or special electrical work. The power banks charge in the station while they wait for the next guest.
How guests use it
A guest scans the QR code on the screen, pays $9 on their phone with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a credit card (processed by Stripe), and takes the power bank the station releases. Each power bank is 5,000 mAh and has Lightning, USB-C and Micro-USB cables built in, so it works with iPhones and Android phones without anyone needing to bring a cord.
Guests can return the power bank to any Charged YYJ station within 24 hours. Their card gets a temporary $39 hold, and only $9 is charged when the power bank comes back on time. If it isn't returned in that time, the $39 non-return charge applies ($9 rental plus $30 for the power bank) and the guest keeps the power bank. The full rental steps are on the power bank rental page.
Where the stations will be
We're launching in December 2026 with stations in bars and venues around downtown Victoria. Because you can return a power bank to any station, the more venues that join, the easier it is for guests to rent at one spot and drop it off at another later in the night.
We'll post station locations on this site as they're installed.
Why bars are a good fit
Phones die at night. People use them all evening for photos, maps, messages, splitting tabs and getting a ride home, and a dead phone is a real safety problem at closing time. A charging station on the counter solves that without staff having to lend out their own chargers or keep guests' phones behind the bar.
For venues, the station is free and earns a share of every rental. You can read how that works on our page for bars and venues.
Questions
Common questions about pricing, payment, returns and phones are answered in the FAQ. You can also email finleytaverna@gmail.com or call or text 250-883-6094. Or head back to the Charged YYJ homepage to see the station in 3D.
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