University of Windsor's pub will be transformed into a bookstore and cafe. (CBC News)

The University of Windsor is about to tender out renovation work on the former Thirsty Scholar pub.

The bar closed last year because of financial problems.

The space will be transformed into a bookstore featuring a smaller, 2,000-square-foot cafe, which will sell beer and wine.

Some students, including Michael Obeng, still want a full-service bar to remain,.

"It's been extremely devastating. I used to go to the Thirsty Scholar once a week and I'm part of a student group. We used to host a lot of parties there and it was pretty beneficial for the students so you know," he said.

Student Kelly Laing also wants a pub on campus.

"I feel like them taking this away from the campus is going to hurt the campus a lot because we don't have a lot of big campus community events," she said.

The president of the University of Windsor Students Alliance, which ran the pub, says students have missed it but they've tried other alternatives.

"We have tried to compensate with events that held off campus," Kim Orr said. "We've been working with the Dominion House in Old Sandwich Towne, trying to still create those pub nights that students are used to doing. So, we've tried to fill the void of it being gone."

The student alliance will hold one final party at the pub this Thursday night to say goodbye.

Renovations are expected to begin within the next month.

"We do have a new request for proposal going out next week to conduct the demolition for that space and then hopefully by the end of the month and the plan is to have that space demolished and the renovations can begin," university spokesperson Holly Ward said.

The new bookstore and cafe is to open in September.