On the first morning RingSide Steakhouse offered up frozen boxes of its high-quality steaks directly to the public for the first time in 75 years, customers eager to buy them created a huge traffic jam Saturday morning on West Burnside Street.

The line of cars stretched about a mile, drawing puzzled stares from residents in the many apartments flanking the major Portland arterial. Portland traffic cops responded to help with the flow.

Less than 2.5 hours later, the restaurant had sold out of dry-rubbed steaks, bacon, chicken and an assortment of other frozen meats. RingSide had expected its masked and gloved employees to sell the meats over two six-hour windows Saturday and Sunday, but it was overwhelmed by the public response.

“We anticipated there would be some demand, but not this much demand,” said General Manager Geoff Rich.

If you are thinking about going to the Ringside Steakhouse meat sale, don’t. pic.twitter.com/pD5aOEtd5H — Scott The Beav (@Scottlesser11) April 25, 2020

He said the first customer pulled into the parking lot at 7:30 a.m. -- more than two hours before the sale began.

Onlookers posted some angry comments on social media, complaining of honking horns and congestion bad enough that a civilian got out to direct traffic. One customer tweeted about barely moving in the line of cars after waiting 45 minutes.

Portland friends, do not attempt the Ringside steak sale. The line is already backed up to Powell's... pic.twitter.com/05NV93GnoJ — Kellen (@iamkellex) April 25, 2020

RingSide had closed in mid-March, when Gov. Kate Brown ordered all in-house dining at restaurants and bars to stop in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Rich said RingSide took it a step further by deciding not to offer takeout, which the governor had allowed under her order.

Rich said the restaurant decided to offer its meats to the public -- to cook at home -- in order to sell off its existing stores as well as support its supplier by ordering new meats. A range of jobs -- from butchery to warehouse to delivery -- are sustained by keeping the supply chain running, Rich said.

“This was our toe in the water,” Rich said of Saturday’s sale. “We really had no idea whether people were comfortable leaving the house.”

The restaurant quickly got its answer.

On the low end, RingSide was selling 10 pounds of pork cubes for $10. On the high end, about 13 pounds of boxed, dry-aged ribeye were going for $205. Rich said he wouldn’t describe most of the restaurant’s meats as a staple.

“It’s a nice luxury, and it’s comforting at a time people could use a little comfort in their own homes,” Rich said.

Rich said RingSide will again sell new arrivals of meat Sunday. But the sale will go much differently.

Customers will be required to set up an appointment for pickup on the restaurant’s website, so there shouldn’t be a big traffic jam Sunday, Rich said.

Rich said the restaurant also plans to continue its public meat sales on future, yet-to-be-determined dates.

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.