> At a Glance
> – D.C. landlord Christopher Powell is suing Tyra Banks and her partner for $2.8 million after they allegedly backed out of a 10-year lease for an ice cream shop in Eastern Market
> – The lease was signed in April 2024 for the pop-up location of Banks’ brand Smize & Dream, but the pair reportedly abandoned the space in June 2024 without paying rent
> – Banks and her partner claim they terminated the lease due to “myriad mechanical, electrical, and plumbing deficiencies” in the building
> – Why it matters: The case highlights the risks of commercial real estate deals with celebrity-backed ventures and could set precedent for lease disputes in D.C.
Tyra Banks’ foray into the ice cream business has melted into a legal mess. The supermodel-turned-entrepreneur and her business partner Louis Martin are facing a $2.8 million lawsuit from a D.C. landlord who claims they walked away from a decade-long lease.
The Lease Deal That Went Cold
Christopher Powell, a landlord in D.C.’s Eastern Market neighborhood, says he met with Banks and Martin in March 2024 to discuss opening a Smize & Dream location. The deal seemed sweet: Martin signed a 10-year commercial lease on April 17, 2024, court documents show.
But the relationship quickly soured. According to Powell’s complaint, the pair abandoned the building in June 2024 and stopped paying rent without explanation. The landlord claims he’d already invested heavily in the project and turned away other potential tenants.
The Counterclaim
Banks and Martin aren’t taking the accusations lying down. In a September 2024 letter, they claimed they broke the lease because Powell had promised them the entire building, not just partial space. They also allege the building had serious deficiencies that weren’t addressed.
The plot thickened when Powell spotted former Vice President Kamala Harris enjoying ice cream at a Smize & Dream pop-up in Woodley Park – the same brand he’d planned to host.
Legal Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 17, 2024 | Martin signs 10-year lease |
| June 2024 | Banks and Martin allegedly abandon space |
| September 9, 2024 | Formal lease termination notice sent |
| October 2024 | Powell files $2.8M lawsuit |
| December 30, 2025 | Case moved to D.C. Superior Court |
About Smize & Dream
Banks’ ice cream venture started as a mobile outlet in Dubai before expanding to Los Angeles as a pre-packaged shop. The D.C. location was meant to be the brand’s first pop-up, with New York planned as the next market.
The model has said her mother inspired her to enter the ice cream business, while her brother – who lived in D.C. for 28 years as a military member – influenced the decision to open in the District.
Key Takeaways
- The lawsuit seeks $2.8 million in damages for alleged breach of contract
- Banks and Martin claim the building had major mechanical issues
- The case has been moved from federal to D.C. Superior Court
- Smize & Dream continues operating pop-ups despite the legal battle
As this legal drama unfolds, Banks’ ice cream empire keeps expanding – she opened a flagship store in Sydney, Australia in June, proving that one soured deal won’t freeze her entrepreneurial spirit.
