By HEATHER BAUGHMAN

baughman@crescent-news.com

WALL-E, the Love Guru and Kung Fu Panda will continue to play at the local movie theater, even though Regal Cinemas moved out of Northtowne Mall on Monday afternoon.

Monday's 7 p.m. show ran as normal in the movie theater, with only a few small changes such as Pepsi products instead of Coke and smaller, more affordable snacks at the concession stand.

The major difference, which probably went unnoticed, was the change in ownership of the theater.

Late Monday morning and early Monday afternoon, Michael Sobkowiak, general manager of Defiance Theaters Inc., was at the mall preparing for a quick turnover from Regal Cinemas to his family-run business, which also operates four movie theaters in Pennsylvania and one in Kent.

"We're a family-run (independent) business," Sobkowiak said, stating that unlike a large corporate theater company such as Regal, "we can adapt the theater to the local setting."

Sobkowiak said his company, of which he is a co-manager, was introduced to Defiance by Northtowne Mall managers J.J. Gumberg Co. "They like the operation we run at another location," Sobkowiak said, and told his company about the opening at Defiance.

Though Defiance is much farther west than any of the company's other locations, Sobkowiak said, "We, as an organization, enjoy the small-town feel," and thought Defiance would be a great fit.

As the company becomes more familiar with Defiance, Sobkowiak is hoping to introduce specials that would appeal to Defiance and northwest Ohio movie-goers.

As for the operation of the theater, Sobkowiak said the movies will remain the same with "all the big-name movies" coming to Defiance.

Ticket prices will also remain the same: $8.25 for adults, $6.50 for matinee shows and $5.75 for children 12 and under and seniors 62 and over.

New will be Mighty Movie Mondays, a staple at the company's other theaters. On Mondays, admission to all shows is $5 -- and customers get a free popcorn.

Sobkowiak also said the theater is offering a deal for popcorn lovers. Customers who purchase a $6 refillable bucket of popcorn can bring that bucket back to the movies and refill it for $3. That offer will last until the end of 2008.

"We know that this is a hometown theater and we want to keep things affordable," Sobkowiak said.

Concessions will also be less expensive, he said. For example, "their small (Regal's) is our large. This makes it more affordable" to go to the movies.

By today, the theater's movie schedule will be on the company website, www.moviescoop.com. The theater's phone number for movie listings will remain the same: 419-782-6459.