diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 3b59ff2f5..3c51c1db4 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ dist
 dist/coral-admin/bundle.js
 .DS_Store
 *.iml
+dump.rdb
 .env
 gaba.cfg
 .idea/
diff --git a/client/coral-embed-stream/src/CommentStream.js b/client/coral-embed-stream/src/CommentStream.js
index 40ad72a41..753455d8d 100644
--- a/client/coral-embed-stream/src/CommentStream.js
+++ b/client/coral-embed-stream/src/CommentStream.js
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   Notification,
   notificationActions,
   authActions,
+  configActions
 } from '../../coral-framework';
 
 import CommentBox from '../../coral-plugin-commentbox/CommentBox';
@@ -21,14 +22,17 @@ import LikeButton from '../../coral-plugin-likes/LikeButton';
 import PermalinkButton from '../../coral-plugin-permalinks/PermalinkButton';
 import SignInContainer from '../../coral-sign-in/containers/SignInContainer';
 import UserBox from '../../coral-sign-in/components/UserBox';
+
 import {TabBar, Tab, TabContent, Spinner} from '../../coral-ui';
 import SettingsContainer from '../../coral-settings/containers/SettingsContainer';
 import RestrictedContent from '../../coral-framework/components/RestrictedContent';
 import SuspendedAccount from '../../coral-framework/components/SuspendedAccount';
+import CloseCommentsInfo from '../../coral-framework/components/CloseCommentsInfo';
 
 const {addItem, updateItem, postItem, getStream, postAction, deleteAction, appendItemArray} = itemActions;
 const {addNotification, clearNotification} = notificationActions;
 const {logout, showSignInDialog} = authActions;
+const {updateOpenStatus} = configActions;
 
 class CommentStream extends Component {
 
@@ -40,6 +44,7 @@ class CommentStream extends Component {
     };
 
     this.changeTab = this.changeTab.bind(this);
+    this.toggleStatus = this.toggleStatus.bind(this);
   }
 
   changeTab (tab) {
@@ -48,6 +53,10 @@ class CommentStream extends Component {
     });
   }
 
+  toggleStatus () {
+    this.props.updateStatus(this.props.config.status === 'open' ? 'closed' : 'open');
+  }
+
   static propTypes = {
     items: PropTypes.object.isRequired,
     addItem: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
@@ -81,6 +90,7 @@ 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' : ''}>
@@ -90,135 +100,145 @@ class CommentStream extends Component {
           <TabBar onChange={this.changeTab} activeTab={activeTab}>
             <Tab><Count id={rootItemId} items={this.props.items}/></Tab>
             <Tab>Settings</Tab>
+            <Tab>Configure Stream</Tab>
           </TabBar>
-          {loggedIn && <UserBox user={user} logout={this.props.logout} />}
+            {loggedIn && <UserBox user={user} logout={this.props.logout} />}
           {/* Add to the restricted param a boolean if the user is suspended*/}
           <RestrictedContent restricted={false} restrictedComp={<SuspendedAccount />}>
             <TabContent show={activeTab === 0}>
-              <div id="commentBox">
-                <InfoBox
-                  content={this.props.config.infoBoxContent}
-                  enable={this.props.config.infoBoxEnable}
-                />
-                <CommentBox
-                  addNotification={this.props.addNotification}
-                  postItem={this.props.postItem}
-                  appendItemArray={this.props.appendItemArray}
-                  updateItem={this.props.updateItem}
-                  id={rootItemId}
-                  premod={this.props.config.moderation}
-                  reply={false}
-                  author={user}
-                />
+                {
+                  status === 'open'
+                  ? <div id="commentBox">
+                      <InfoBox
+                        content={this.props.config.infoBoxContent}
+                        enable={this.props.config.infoBoxEnable}
+                      />
+                      <CommentBox
+                        addNotification={this.props.addNotification}
+                        postItem={this.props.postItem}
+                        appendItemArray={this.props.appendItemArray}
+                        updateItem={this.props.updateItem}
+                        id={rootItemId}
+                        premod={this.props.config.moderation}
+                        reply={false}
+                        author={user}
+                      />
+                    </div>
+                  : <p>Comments are closed for this thread.</p>
+                }
                 {!loggedIn && <SignInContainer />}
-              </div>
-              {
-                rootItem.comments && rootItem.comments.map((commentId) => {
-                  const comment = comments[commentId];
-                  return <div className="comment" key={commentId} id={`c_${commentId}`}>
-                    <hr aria-hidden={true}/>
-                    <AuthorName author={users[comment.author_id]}/>
-                    <PubDate created_at={comment.created_at}/>
-                    <Content body={comment.body}/>
-                    <div className="commentActionsLeft">
-                      <ReplyButton
+                {
+                  rootItem.comments && rootItem.comments.map((commentId) => {
+                    const comment = comments[commentId];
+                    return <div className="comment" key={commentId} id={`c_${commentId}`}>
+                      <hr aria-hidden={true}/>
+                      <AuthorName author={users[comment.author_id]}/>
+                      <PubDate created_at={comment.created_at}/>
+                      <Content body={comment.body}/>
+                      <div className="commentActionsLeft">
+                        <ReplyButton
+                          updateItem={this.props.updateItem}
+                          id={commentId}
+                          showReply={comment.showReply}/>
+                        <LikeButton
+                          addNotification={this.props.addNotification}
+                          id={commentId}
+                          like={actions[comment.like]}
+                          showSignInDialog={this.props.showSignInDialog}
+                          postAction={this.props.postAction}
+                          deleteAction={this.props.deleteAction}
+                          addItem={this.props.addItem}
+                          updateItem={this.props.updateItem}
+                          currentUser={this.props.auth.user}/>
+                      </div>
+                      <div className="commentActionsRight">
+                        <FlagButton
+                          addNotification={this.props.addNotification}
+                          id={commentId}
+                          flag={actions[comment.flag]}
+                          postAction={this.props.postAction}
+                          deleteAction={this.props.deleteAction}
+                          addItem={this.props.addItem}
+                          showSignInDialog={this.props.showSignInDialog}
+                          updateItem={this.props.updateItem}
+                          currentUser={this.props.auth.user}/>
+                        <PermalinkButton
+                          commentId={commentId}
+                          articleURL={this.path}/>
+                      </div>
+                      <ReplyBox
+                        addNotification={this.props.addNotification}
+                        postItem={this.props.postItem}
+                        appendItemArray={this.props.appendItemArray}
                         updateItem={this.props.updateItem}
-                        id={commentId}
+                        id={rootItemId}
+                        author={user}
+                        parent_id={commentId}
+                        premod={this.props.config.moderation}
                         showReply={comment.showReply}/>
-                      <LikeButton
-                        addNotification={this.props.addNotification}
-                        id={commentId}
-                        like={actions[comment.like]}
-                        showSignInDialog={this.props.showSignInDialog}
-                        postAction={this.props.postAction}
-                        deleteAction={this.props.deleteAction}
-                        addItem={this.props.addItem}
-                        updateItem={this.props.updateItem}
-                        currentUser={this.props.auth.user}/>
-                    </div>
-                    <div className="commentActionsRight">
-                      <FlagButton
-                        addNotification={this.props.addNotification}
-                        id={commentId}
-                        flag={actions[comment.flag]}
-                        postAction={this.props.postAction}
-                        deleteAction={this.props.deleteAction}
-                        addItem={this.props.addItem}
-                        showSignInDialog={this.props.showSignInDialog}
-                        updateItem={this.props.updateItem}
-                        currentUser={this.props.auth.user}/>
-                      <PermalinkButton
-                        commentId={commentId}
-                        articleURL={this.path}/>
-                    </div>
-                    <ReplyBox
-                      addNotification={this.props.addNotification}
-                      postItem={this.props.postItem}
-                      appendItemArray={this.props.appendItemArray}
-                      updateItem={this.props.updateItem}
-                      id={rootItemId}
-                      author={user}
-                      parent_id={commentId}
-                      premod={this.props.config.moderation}
-                      showReply={comment.showReply}/>
-                    {
-                      comment.children &&
-                      comment.children.map((replyId) => {
-                        let reply = this.props.items.comments[replyId];
-                        return <div className="reply" key={replyId} id={`c_${replyId}`}>
-                          <hr aria-hidden={true}/>
-                          <AuthorName author={users[reply.author_id]}/>
-                          <PubDate created_at={reply.created_at}/>
-                          <Content body={reply.body}/>
-                          <div className="replyActionsLeft">
-                            <ReplyButton
+                      {
+                        comment.children &&
+                        comment.children.map((replyId) => {
+                          let reply = this.props.items.comments[replyId];
+                          return <div className="reply" key={replyId} id={`c_${replyId}`}>
+                            <hr aria-hidden={true}/>
+                            <AuthorName author={users[reply.author_id]}/>
+                            <PubDate created_at={reply.created_at}/>
+                            <Content body={reply.body}/>
+                            <div className="replyActionsLeft">
+                              <ReplyButton
+                                updateItem={this.props.updateItem}
+                                id={replyId}
+                                showReply={reply.showReply}/>
+                              <LikeButton
+                                addNotification={this.props.addNotification}
+                                id={replyId}
+                                like={this.props.items.actions[reply.like]}
+                                postAction={this.props.postAction}
+                                deleteAction={this.props.deleteAction}
+                                addItem={this.props.addItem}
+                                showSignInDialog={this.props.showSignInDialog}
+                                updateItem={this.props.updateItem}
+                                currentUser={this.props.auth.user}/>
+                            </div>
+                            <div className="replyActionsRight">
+                              <FlagButton
+                                addNotification={this.props.addNotification}
+                                id={replyId}
+                                flag={this.props.items.actions[reply.flag]}
+                                postAction={this.props.postAction}
+                                showSignInDialog={this.props.showSignInDialog}
+                                deleteAction={this.props.deleteAction}
+                                addItem={this.props.addItem}
+                                updateItem={this.props.updateItem}
+                                currentUser={this.props.auth.user}/>
+                              <PermalinkButton
+                                commentId={reply.parent_id}
+                                articleURL={this.path}
+                              />
+                            </div>
+                            <ReplyBox
+                              addNotification={this.props.addNotification}
+                              postItem={this.props.postItem}
+                              appendItemArray={this.props.appendItemArray}
                               updateItem={this.props.updateItem}
-                              id={replyId}
+                              id={rootItemId}
+                              author={user}
+                              parent_id={commentId}
+                              child_id={replyId}
+                              premod={this.props.config.moderation}
                               showReply={reply.showReply}/>
-                            <LikeButton
-                              addNotification={this.props.addNotification}
-                              id={replyId}
-                              like={this.props.items.actions[reply.like]}
-                              postAction={this.props.postAction}
-                              deleteAction={this.props.deleteAction}
-                              addItem={this.props.addItem}
-                              showSignInDialog={this.props.showSignInDialog}
-                              updateItem={this.props.updateItem}
-                              currentUser={this.props.auth.user}/>
-                          </div>
-                          <div className="replyActionsRight">
-                            <FlagButton
-                              addNotification={this.props.addNotification}
-                              id={replyId}
-                              flag={this.props.items.actions[reply.flag]}
-                              postAction={this.props.postAction}
-                              showSignInDialog={this.props.showSignInDialog}
-                              deleteAction={this.props.deleteAction}
-                              addItem={this.props.addItem}
-                              updateItem={this.props.updateItem}
-                              currentUser={this.props.auth.user}/>
-                            <PermalinkButton
-                              commentId={reply.parent_id}
-                              articleURL={this.path}
-                            />
-                          </div>
-                          <ReplyBox
-                            addNotification={this.props.addNotification}
-                            postItem={this.props.postItem}
-                            appendItemArray={this.props.appendItemArray}
-                            updateItem={this.props.updateItem}
-                            id={rootItemId}
-                            author={user}
-                            parent_id={commentId}
-                            child_id={replyId}
-                            premod={this.props.config.moderation}
-                            showReply={reply.showReply}/>
-                        </div>;
-                      })
+                          </div>;
+                        })
                     }
                   </div>;
-                })
-              }
+                  })
+                }
+              <Notification
+                notifLength={4500}
+                clearNotification={this.props.clearNotification}
+                notification={this.props.notification}
+              />
             </TabContent>
             <TabContent show={activeTab === 1}>
               <SettingsContainer
@@ -226,7 +246,12 @@ class CommentStream extends Component {
                 userData={this.props.userData}
                 showSignInDialog={this.props.handleSignInDialog}
               />
-              {!loggedIn && <SignInContainer noButton/>}
+            </TabContent>
+            <TabContent show={activeTab === 2}>
+              <h3>{status === 'open' ? 'Close' : 'Open'} Comment Stream</h3>
+              <RestrictedContent restricted={!loggedIn}>
+                <CloseCommentsInfo onClick={this.toggleStatus} status={status} />
+              </RestrictedContent>
             </TabContent>
           </RestrictedContent>
           <Notification
@@ -236,7 +261,7 @@ class CommentStream extends Component {
           />
         </div>
           :
-          <Spinner/>
+        <Spinner/>
       }
     </div>;
   }
@@ -263,6 +288,7 @@ const mapDispatchToProps = (dispatch) => ({
   appendItemArray: (item, property, value, addToFront, itemType) => dispatch(appendItemArray(item, property, value, addToFront, itemType)),
   handleSignInDialog: () => dispatch(authActions.showSignInDialog()),
   logout: () => dispatch(logout()),
+  updateStatus: status => dispatch(updateOpenStatus(status))
 });
 
 export default connect(mapStateToProps, mapDispatchToProps)(CommentStream);
diff --git a/client/coral-embed-stream/style/default.css b/client/coral-embed-stream/style/default.css
index 21e40ce98..59efc3dc8 100644
--- a/client/coral-embed-stream/style/default.css
+++ b/client/coral-embed-stream/style/default.css
@@ -197,3 +197,42 @@ hr {
   float: right;
   margin: 8px;
 }
+
+/* Close comments */
+
+.close-comments-intro-wrapper {
+  display: flex;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  align-items: center;
+}
+
+.close-comments-intro-wrapper button {
+  width: 300px;
+  margin-left: 20px;
+}
+
+.close-comments-intro-wrapper button:disabled {
+  opacity: 0.5;
+  cursor: not-allowed;
+}
+
+.close-comments-message {
+  box-sizing: border-box;
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 100px;
+}
+
+.close-comments-confirm-wrapper {
+  float: right;
+}
+
+.close-comments-alert {
+  background-color: #d65344;
+  color: white;
+  font-size: 16px;
+  padding: 5px;
+}
+
+.close-comments-alert i.material-icons {
+  font-size: 16px !important;
+}
diff --git a/client/coral-framework/actions/config.js b/client/coral-framework/actions/config.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6dc880434
--- /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(() => dispatch({type: status === 'open' ? OPEN_COMMENTS : CLOSE_COMMENTS}));
+};
diff --git a/client/coral-framework/components/CloseCommentsInfo.js b/client/coral-framework/components/CloseCommentsInfo.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..627328f9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/coral-framework/components/CloseCommentsInfo.js
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import {Button} from 'coral-ui';
+
+export default ({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}>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/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..05926bc15 100644
--- a/routes/api/asset/index.js
+++ b/routes/api/asset/index.js
@@ -96,4 +96,12 @@ 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(() => res.status(204).end())
+    .catch((err) => next(err));
+});
+
 module.exports = router;