[mindflayer]

Another possiblity,
(For the deli, the owner may have grown up in the area and knows every customer by name and what they like..in larger companies, the reverse might be true, where every customer knows who the owner is.) remove the owner and you lose a substantial part of the business.

If, when you think of the company and then IMMEDiately think of XXX the founder or owner, then the company is probably in this situation.
Think Warren Buffet and Berkshire Hathaway
Think Steve Jobs and Apple.
For your deli example,
Think of Cheers and Sam Malone (if you are old enough to remember)