Cellar 46, a Town Center favorite of local oeneophiles and voted "Best Happy Hour", has closed their doors for business.

Signs posted on the business last week announced a "liquidation sale" as owner Ryan Allison wound down operations at the wine bar & restaurant just before Christmas. Opened in 2007 as one of the first ground-floor tenants of the newly-constructed The Mercer Apartments , the wine bar and restaurant — which also sold wine and offered cellar space to patrons — closed on Dec. 23.

The closing, however, represents a renewed focus on Allison's successful online wine retail business, Discount Wine Buys.com , according to sales manager Claire Robinson.

"We're still busy with online wine buys," she said. "Anyone can buy wine here we sell wine and ship it all over the country." 

Plans are currently in the works to set up a wine pick-up location where Mercer Island residents can receive orders free of shipping charges.

Still, many are sad to see a restaurant with a reputation for supporting local business — never mind the popular selection of hot crab dip or artisinal cheeses and fruit paired with a wine flight. 

"He's been a really active and involved part of the business community," said Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Terry Moreman.

"We wish him good luck in his online business. It was a wonderful place for an afternoon glass of wine. He was one of the original supporters of "Shop Local" and "Girls Night" events."

"We're sorry that (Cellar 46) is gone."

For more information about Discount Wine Buys, contact 206-913-9463 or email info@discountwinebuys.com.