STRUTHERS — On the dot at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Helena Huncik pulled into the parking lot next to Donavito’s Restaurant and Catering Co. in Struthers.

The place had 1,500 slabs of ribs that were cooked and ready to go.

“I always come at 1 so I don’t have to wait in traffic,” she said, as she gave the server her order.

The traffic she makes a point to avoid can back up along state Route 616 in downtown Struthers for folks who wait in line to pick up orders of ribs.

It is part of Huncik’s routine to pick up some to-go meals that Donavito’s offers through the weeks. She keeps a meal for herself, while one goes to her son and one for her neighbor.

Employees of the restaurant, 139 S. Bridge St., said stay-at-home orders likely play into the traffic congestion, which Struthers Mayor Catherine Cercone Miller said was quickly remedied.

Now that the state is slowly reopening, employees were anticipating spurts of customers throughout the day rather than one big rush.

“The first time they did it (this year), traffic was backed up all the way past the bridge,” Miller said.

After the owners were contacted, they immediately handled the situation, she added.

“They moved the lineup. They had two lines going on each side” to pass out meals, which helped the traffic flow, Miller said.

Bridgette Donatelli, an owner of the restaurant along with husband Alan, explained the cookouts are usually done every other week, weather permitting.

Bridgette said Alan steams and smokes the ribs the evening and night prior. The usual start time is noon, she said, and it lasts until the food is gone.

“Sometimes it takes two, three hours. Sometimes it takes an hour and a half,” Bridgette said.

Because traffic was more congested last month, she said Struthers police officers helped direct vehicles, because the event “just went wild.”

In addition to forcing traffic to go one way into the parking lot on the corner of South Bridge Street and State Street, with two lines continuously going, she said they started a little earlier in the day, sometimes as early as 10:30 a.m.

Noting that the city has been supportive of the drive-thru, Bridgette said the establishment has been trying to be respectful to keep the flow of motorists going. Cones and signs also are placed, marking the way people should go.

One of the first cars in line after 10:30 a.m. was Sandy Montague of Poland.

Montague said she normally picks up anywhere from 11 to 15 of the meals, but on Wednesday she picked up six.

Like Huncik, Montague also has a strategy to beat the wait.

“I get here early,” she said, laughing. “I’m usually here at 10, but today I’m late. It doesn’t matter how long. I’ll wait,” Montague said. “I’m glad they did this (drive-thru)” during the pandemic, she said.

afox@tribtoday.com