diff --git a/client/coral-embed-stream/src/CommentStream.js b/client/coral-embed-stream/src/CommentStream.js
index a78b2f72c..db1ef96b3 100644
--- a/client/coral-embed-stream/src/CommentStream.js
+++ b/client/coral-embed-stream/src/CommentStream.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import {
   Notification,
   notificationActions,
   authActions,
+  configActions
 } from '../../coral-framework';
 import {connect} from 'react-redux';
 import CommentBox from '../../coral-plugin-commentbox/CommentBox';
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ import {Icon} from 'react-mdl';
 const {addItem, updateItem, postItem, getStream, postAction, deleteAction, appendItemArray} = itemActions;
 const {addNotification, clearNotification} = notificationActions;
 const {logout} = authActions;
+const {updateOpenStatus} = configActions;
 
 const mapStateToProps = (state) => {
   return {
@@ -50,6 +52,7 @@ const mapDispatchToProps = (dispatch) => ({
   appendItemArray: (item, property, value, addToFront, itemType) =>
     dispatch(appendItemArray(item, property, value, addToFront, itemType)),
   logout: () => dispatch(logout()),
+  updateStatus: status => dispatch(updateOpenStatus(status))
 });
 
 class CommentStream extends Component {
@@ -58,15 +61,11 @@ class CommentStream extends Component {
     super(props);
 
     this.state = {
-      activeTab: 0,
-      closingComments: false
+      activeTab: 0
     };
 
     this.changeTab = this.changeTab.bind(this);
-    this.changeCommentMessage = this.changeCommentMessage.bind(this);
-    this.promptCloseComments = this.promptCloseComments.bind(this);
-    this.cancelClosingComments = this.cancelClosingComments.bind(this);
-    this.submitMessage = this.submitMessage.bind(this);
+    this.toggleStatus = this.toggleStatus.bind(this);
   }
 
   changeTab (tab) {
@@ -75,24 +74,8 @@ class CommentStream extends Component {
     });
   }
 
-  changeCommentMessage (str) {
-
-  }
-
-  submitMessage () {
-    
-  }
-
-  cancelClosingComments () {
-    this.setState({
-      closingComments: false
-    });
-  }
-
-  promptCloseComments () {
-    this.setState({
-      closingComments: true
-    });
+  toggleStatus () {
+    this.props.updateStatus(this.props.config.status === 'open' ? 'closed' : 'open')
   }
 
   static propTypes = {
@@ -153,6 +136,7 @@ class CommentStream extends Component {
     const rootItem = this.props.items.assets && this.props.items.assets[rootItemId];
     const {actions, users, comments} = this.props.items;
     const {loggedIn, user, showSignInDialog} = this.props.auth;
+    const {status} = this.props.config;
     const {activeTab} = this.state;
 
     return <div className={showSignInDialog ? 'expandForSignin' : ''}>
@@ -297,15 +281,9 @@ class CommentStream extends Component {
             <SettingsContainer/>
           </TabContent>
           <TabContent show={activeTab === 2}>
-            <h3>Close Comment Stream</h3>
-            <CloseCommentsInfo onClick={this.promptCloseComments}
-              closing={this.state.closingComments} />
-            {this.state.closingComments ?
-              <CloseCommentsActions
-                message={"The comments for this article are now closed"}
-                onCancel={this.cancelClosingComments}
-                onSubmitMessage={this.submitMessage}
-                onChangeMessage={this.changeCommentMessage} /> : null}
+            <h3>{status === 'open' ? 'Close' : 'Open'} Comment Stream</h3>
+            <CloseCommentsInfo onClick={this.toggleStatus}
+              status={status} />
           </TabContent>
         </div>
         : 'Loading'
@@ -314,28 +292,22 @@ class CommentStream extends Component {
   }
 }
 
-const CloseCommentsInfo = ({ closing, onClick }) => (
+const CloseCommentsInfo = ({ status, onClick }) => status === 'open' ? (
   <div className="close-comments-intro-wrapper">
     <p>
       This comment stream is currently open. By closing this comment stream,
       no new comments may be submitted and all previous comments will still
       be displayed.
     </p>
-    <Button onClick={onClick} disabled={closing}>Close Stream</Button>
+    <Button onClick={onClick}>Close Stream</Button>
   </div>
-)
-
-const CloseCommentsActions = ({ onChangeMessage, message, onCancel, onSubmitMessage }) => (
-  <div>
-    <p className="close-comments-alert"><Icon name='warning'/> Are you sure you'd like to close this comment stream?</p>
-    <p>Write a message for readers to display</p>
-    <textarea className="close-comments-message"
-      value={message}
-      onChange={onChangeMessage}></textarea>
-    <div className="close-comments-confirm-wrapper">
-      <Button onClick={onCancel}>Cancel</Button>
-      <Button onClick={onSubmitMessage}>Yes, Close Stream</Button>
-    </div>
+) : (
+  <div className="close-comments-intro-wrapper">
+    <p>
+      This comment stream is currently closed. By opening this comment stream,
+      new comments may be submitted and displayed
+    </p>
+    <Button onClick={onClick}>Open Stream</Button>
   </div>
 )
 
diff --git a/client/coral-framework/actions/config.js b/client/coral-framework/actions/config.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..09b4596a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/coral-framework/actions/config.js
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import coralApi from '../helpers/response';
+/* Config Actions */
+
+/**
+ * Action name constants
+ */
+
+export const OPEN_COMMENTS = 'OPEN_COMMENTS';
+export const CLOSE_COMMENTS = 'CLOSE_COMMENTS';
+export const ADD_ITEM = 'ADD_ITEM';
+
+export const updateOpenStatus = status => (dispatch, getState) => {
+  const assetId = getState().items.get('assets').keySeq().toArray()[0]
+  return coralApi(`/asset/${assetId}/status?status=${status}`, {method: 'PUT'})
+    .then(res => {
+      dispatch({ type: status === 'open' ? OPEN_COMMENTS : CLOSE_COMMENTS })
+    })
+}
diff --git a/client/coral-framework/index.js b/client/coral-framework/index.js
index 7b721badc..9a679d969 100644
--- a/client/coral-framework/index.js
+++ b/client/coral-framework/index.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import * as itemActions from './actions/items';
 import I18n from './modules/i18n/i18n';
 import * as notificationActions from './actions/notification';
 import * as authActions from './actions/auth';
+import * as configActions from './actions/config';
 
 export {
   Notification,
@@ -12,4 +13,5 @@ export {
   I18n,
   notificationActions,
   authActions,
+  configActions
 };
diff --git a/client/coral-framework/reducers/config.js b/client/coral-framework/reducers/config.js
index 6521d92a3..9620f5b97 100644
--- a/client/coral-framework/reducers/config.js
+++ b/client/coral-framework/reducers/config.js
@@ -1,19 +1,30 @@
 /* @flow */
 
 import {Map} from 'immutable';
-import * as actions from '../actions/items';
+import * as actions from '../actions/config';
 
 const initialState = Map({
-  features: Map({})
+  features: Map({}),
+  status: 'open'
 });
 
 export default (state = initialState, action) => {
   switch(action.type) {
-
   // Override config if worked
   case actions.UPDATE_SETTINGS:
     return action.config;
 
+  case actions.OPEN_COMMENTS:
+    return state.set('status', 'open');
+
+  case actions.CLOSE_COMMENTS:
+    return state.set('status', 'closed');
+
+  case actions.ADD_ITEM:
+    return action.item_type === 'assets' ?
+      state.set('status', action.item.status)
+    : state;
+
   default:
     return state;
   }
diff --git a/models/asset.js b/models/asset.js
index 00251985a..165ebbc6c 100644
--- a/models/asset.js
+++ b/models/asset.js
@@ -34,7 +34,11 @@ const AssetSchema = new Schema({
   subsection: String,
   author: String,
   publication_date: Date,
-  modified_date: Date
+  modified_date: Date,
+  status: {
+    type: String,
+    default: 'open'
+  }
 }, {
   versionKey: false,
   timestamps: {
diff --git a/routes/api/asset/index.js b/routes/api/asset/index.js
index 96b83a969..30cb98528 100644
--- a/routes/api/asset/index.js
+++ b/routes/api/asset/index.js
@@ -96,4 +96,16 @@ router.put('/:asset_id/settings', (req, res, next) => {
 
 });
 
+router.put('/:asset_id/status', (req, res, next) => {
+  // Update the asset status
+  Asset
+    .update({ id: req.params.asset_id }, { status: req.query.status })
+    .then((asset) => {
+      res.status(204).end();
+    })
+    .catch((err) => {
+      next(err);
+    });
+});
+
 module.exports = router;