Perhaps the hardest thing about moving a tavern or pub is maintaining the original vibe in the new location. When Henry's Pub & Grille moved in November 1998 from its location in the Downer Avenue building that housed the Coffee Trader, it faced that daunting challenge -- and slew it.

Relocating just around the corner to 2521-23 E. Belleview Pl., which previously housed Italian restaurant Cafe Di Salvo, Henry's -- which opened originally in 1981 -- managed to maintain its warm, welcoming feel by making fairly minor changes to the DiSalvo's space: a new coat of paint, some new artwork on the walls, a new bar added in the old dining room. Voila!

The old Henry's had a dark atmosphere, but a welcoming one and on a weekend night, even with a crowd, one almost had the feeling of being at a private party in someone's oak-paneled, bar-equipped den.

"That was my idea," says David Boxer, who bought the place in 1984. "I painted the walls the same color, that same green. That was exactly what we tried to do. It's really quite a bit the same."

To pass the hours on a chilly, rainy Sunday morning, there was no better way to pass the hours on the East Side than with an Irish coffee and the New York Times, peering out at the shiny-wet street through the metal-beaded window hangings.

After work, what could be better than a game of backgammon on the specially-made, heavy wood table near the door?

"It wouldn't fit the space," Boxer says, explaining that the table was one casualty of the move around the corner. "It was a real shame that we had to give it up. We still have games here that people can play, but it's not the same as the table."

That's the kind of the place Henry's was. Although it faces a quieter street and it takes fewer people to feel crowded, Henry's hasn't changed all that much. You can still sit in the window and watch the passersby.

But now, somehow, it feels more like the perfect place for a beer or a pizza after seeing a film at the Downer Theatre. Or, now that they have outdoor tables (not at the old place!), a sweet interruption of a summer evening walk for an aperitif seems in order.

"We have a good mix of people," Boxer says. "The age ranges from 21 through about the mid-50s. The younger people usually come in later at night and the older crowd is here between about 5:30 and 8 p.m. We can tell when there's a good movie at the Downer because we see an bigger crowd those nights."

Boxer says Henry's has a special every night from Sunday through Thursday, Monday is domestic taps, for example, and Wednesday features microbrews.

Questions? Call Henry's at (414) 332-9690.