Tyra Banks Sued For $2.8 Million Over 'Abandoned' Ice Cream Shop

Tyra Banks is facing a $2.8 million lawsuit tied to a planned ice cream shop in Washington, D.C., after a landlord claims the deal fell apart just months after a long-term lease was signed. According to a civil complaint filed in D.C. federal court, property owner Christopher Powell alleges that he entered into a 10-year commercial lease in April 2024 with Banks, her ice cream brand Smize & Dream, her nonprofit School of SMiZE, and business partner Louis Martin. The agreement was meant to establish a flagship Smize & Dream ice cream shop in Powell’s building. Instead, Powell asserts that the project was abandoned that summer and that rent was never paid. In the filing, Powell says the property was leased “as-is” after discussions began in March 2024. He alleges that Banks personally described the concept as more than a dessert business, characterizing it as an initiative that would provide underserved youth with education in science, sales, and hospitality. The complaint states Banks told him the D.C. location was intended to be “the flagship location” for a brand she envisioned expanding globally. Powell claims he continued to collaborate on designs and planning for the shop, only to see Smize & Dream's designs later publicly showcased for a location in Sydney, Australia. According to the lawsuit, Banks and Martin “abruptly abandoned the premises in June 2024” and stopped communicating about rent obligations. The complaint further alleges Powell had “no indication” the deal would collapse, noting that the defendants had repeatedly emphasized their commitment to opening the shop in his building. He also claims that, weeks after leaving the property, Banks and Martin opened a Smize & Dream pop-up location a short distance away, while allegedly ignoring their contractual obligations. In September, Powell states he received a letter from Banks and Martin alleging issues with the property. The filing characterizes those claims as “untrue and irrelevant,” and alleges the letter threatened negative publicity if Powell pursued legal action. The complaint also alleges that the defendants represented they would avoid paying any judgment by shifting liability to a company with no assets. Powell is seeking at least $2,831,331, plus late fees, interest, attorneys’ fees, and additional costs outlined in the lease. His attorney, Arziki Adamu, said Powell “executed a valid lease” and was left with “no option but to sue” once the agreement was abandoned.

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