A couple of Windsor men will not let the east-end tavern Abars get knocked down without a fight.

Darren Thorne and Derek Farrugia will present their argument to save the Prohibition-era bar when they go before city council Tuesday night, arguing to preserve the historical site.

The current owner, a subsidiary of Manuel (Matty) Moroun, has asked for a demolition permit to topple the building that was built in 1904.

Thorne and Farrugia want the politicians to reject the application and deem the site a heritage property, forcing the owner to restore the property to provincial standards.

Both men are behind the latest social media campaign to save Abars. They recognize there are no distinct architectural features to the building, but want the city to preserve its historical significance.

​"During Prohibition, one in four citizens ... in this city were involved in rumrunning," Thorne said. "That building itself holds history inside it. We'd like to preserve it."

Farrugia knows the building well. He worked at the bar and became part owner of Abars from 2009 to 2013. He said many of the business owners struggled to get repairs done as the building's owners let it fall further into disrepair.

"Cosmetically, the building is in rough shape," he said. "It's important people know that it really is a lot of cosmetic repair. Structurally, the building is sound."

Farrugia and Thorne recognize they didn't have much support from councillors when they began their battle to save the building. Until the campaign started, Coun. Chris Holt told them they were the only two people who contacted him opposing the demolition.

"He was really direct with us," Thorne said. "We're behind the eight ball. It's going to be really tough."

Since the campaign started, though, Thorne said many people have shown their support.

Several councillors on the city's heritage committee would prefer to demolish the building, including Coun. Bill Marra. He told CBC News last month the building did not have enough features to warrant special designation.

"The story is compelling, the history is compelling as far as what that destination held," he said at the time. "But if you look at the pictures from the original structure and look at what's there now, it's non-recognizable."