Before Uber Eats and DoorDash There Was ... 2Go Services!
My friend Robert passed away last year of a sudden heart attack. I worked for him, for decades, doing graphic design for his food delivery business. I designed his logo, still in use today, at three in the morning, on a cocktail napkin, as was my M.O. in the early 1990s.
Fifteen years ago, as his business expanded, Robert bought an old warehouse in Renton. 2Go Services was always profitable, in part because he worked insane hours.
He had a colorful career in the 1980s - so colorful that he ended up serving time in federal prison.
Prostitution Kingpin Found Guilty
A Seattle man who built an escort empire was found guilty in federal court yesterday of 50 counts of racketeering, money laundering and credit-card fraud.
One mistake Robert made was to go on the lam after his conviction. Two Secret Service agents visited me at my office to ask me if I knew where he was (I didn’t) and offer me a $5,000 reward for snitching (laughable).
Robert was also the original punk rock king of Seattle, publishing a punk zine called “Twisted” and booking concerts by the Ramones and others.
I always wanted him to eventually tell me the story of his wild days. Robert made a fortune, lost it all, and was convicted even though prosecutors could never get even one of his employees to testify against him. He was a good boss, apparently. Paid more than the industry standard and gave medical benefits - unheard of in the industry he was in at the time.
I really, really wanted Robert to give me his customer list — rich and powerful Seattle men. Too late now.
—Alex