comments are closed missing from theme

Wow, this forum is such an amazing resource. I’m hoping you can help me.

I’ve added a theme and spent some time customizing the edges of it. So far so good. I want to be able to close off comments after 14 days. When I go to Settings > Discussions and apply to ‘close comments after certain time’, my theme hides any reference to those comments at all.

I’m wondering if I can ‘close comments’ but still see them, or AT LEAST put a notice that says the comments are closed.

It think I should change this part of comments.php but am wondering whether you guys have some tips on how?

<?php else :
	/* If there are no comments and comments are closed,
	 * let's leave a little note, shall we?
	 */
	if ( ! comments_open() ) :
?>
<?php endif; ?>
<?php endif;  ?>

[Please post code snippets between backticks or use the code button.]

Thanks in advance for any ideas.