by Kandiss Edwards
December 19, 2025
Christopher Powell alleges Tyra Banks flaked on a 10-year industrial lease contract.
Tyra Banks and her ice cream enterprise are going through a $2.8 million lawsuit over a industrial lease dispute tied to a deliberate Smize & Dream “sizzling ice cream” store in Washington, D.C.
The lawsuit was filed by Christopher Powell, a landlord and entrepreneur, who alleges that Banks, her firm, College of Smize LLC, and enterprise associate, Louis Martin, entered right into a 10-year industrial lease in April 2024 for a flagship Smize & Dream location within the District’s Japanese Market neighborhood. Subsequently, Banks and her firm deserted the premises with out fulfilling the lease obligations, the Grio reported.
Powell’s grievance alleges that Banks initially offered the D.C. location as half of a bigger marketing strategy to construct a world Smize & Dream model, a model geared toward worldwide attain.
“She mentioned Smize & Dream wouldn’t solely be an ice cream store, but additionally an initiative to offer underserved youth in Washington with schooling in science, gross sales, and hospitality,” the submitting states.
Moreover, Powell claims the group “abruptly deserted the premises” in June 2024 and did not pay lease, leaving him with monetary losses. Powell additional alleges that shortly after withdrawing from the lease, Banks and Martin opened a Smize & Dream location in Sydney, Australia. But, the corporate continued facilitating pop-up occasions close to the unique D.C. web site.
Powell is in search of $2.8 million plus late charges, accrued curiosity, attorneys’ charges, and different related prices, based on Axios. The grievance consists of claims of breach of contract and associated allegations tied to the lease settlement.
Attorneys for Banks and Martin have filed a movement to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing an absence of jurisdiction and that the grievance fails to state a declare. A federal choose granted Powell an extension to reply to that movement.
Smize & Dream, described as a “sizzling ice cream” idea with a social mission, has generated consideration for its branding and pop-up occasions in a number of U.S. cities and overseas.
Banks and Martin deny all allegations.
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