Home / Business and Economy / Tyra Banks Sued for $2.8M Over Abandoned Ice Cream Shop
Tyra Banks Sued for $2.8M Over Abandoned Ice Cream Shop
13 Dec
Summary
- Landlord claims Tyra Banks abandoned a 10-year lease for a D.C. ice cream shop.
- The lawsuit seeks over $2.8 million for alleged breach of contract.
- Banks allegedly opened an alternative Smize & Dream venture elsewhere after abandoning the D.C. site.
A commercial landlord in Washington, D.C. has initiated a $2.8 million lawsuit against supermodel Tyra Banks and her ice cream venture, Smize & Dream. The landlord, Christopher Powell, asserts that Banks entered into a decade-long lease in April 2025 but subsequently terminated it prematurely in the summer of that year, failing to pay outstanding rent.
Powell's complaint details that Banks expressed intentions to establish a flagship location in his building, which would also serve as an initiative for underserved youth. However, he claims they later abandoned the premises abruptly in June 2025, opting instead to showcase designs for a Sydney, Australia location.
Further allegations suggest Banks and her partner, Louis Martin, then launched an alternative Smize & Dream pop-up shop near Powell's property while disregarding their contractual obligations. The landlord is seeking substantial damages, including lost rent, interest, and legal fees, after attempts at amicable resolution proved unsuccessful.
