AMHERST — A retail, event and satellite meeting space for the University of Massachusetts is open in Amherst center.

Following several months of renovation to a storefront most recently used as a bank, UMass Downtown opened Thursday at 108 North Pleasant St., in the heart of the Amherst’s central business district.

UMass Downtown is to be a welcome center for prospective UMass students and their families, as well as a boutique retail satellite and campus information center during regular business hours. It will also be a hub for town-gown interaction with community members.

In the evenings, the space will regularly host small lectures, readings and workshops.

UMass Downtown is being managed by the Office of Community Relations and University Events in partnership with UMass Auxiliary Enterprises.

The presence for UMass in the business district was announced at the annual community breakfast late last summer by Chancellor Javier Reyes, who emphasized the importance of building connections with the town.

“When I arrived at UMass Amherst, I said I hoped to see more UMass in the community and more of the community at UMass,” Reyes said.

That sentiment is similar to the approach by Amherst College and its President Michael A. Elliott. Amherst College last spring opened its own store at 45 South Pleasant St. as part of Merchants’ Row.

Nancy Buffone, associate vice chancellor for university relations, said in a statement that university officials are excited to bring a UMass presence to Amherst center.

“UMass Downtown is something we have worked on for a long time and is another step in answering Chancellor Reyes’ call for more UMass in the community,” Buffone said.

With the opening, the university also announced that Micah Ariel James will be UMass Downtown’s director. Responsible for the day-to-day management at the site, James is working collaboratively with campus and community partners on the experience and calls UMass Downtown “a place of town-gown convergence and activity.”

“We will curate and attract programming that puts the talent of the campus on display in the community, while partnering with organizations and businesses to strengthen downtown Amherst,” said James, who most recently served as the inaugural outreach and equity coordinator for the North Liberty, Iowa, where she established, supported and sustained welcoming, inclusive and accessible city initiatives and community events.

A grand opening celebration at UMass Downtown will be announced in the coming weeks.