Christopher Powell claims that he entered into a 10-year commercial lease with Banks for her to set up her ice cream shop, only for her to abandon the property months later.

Tyra Banks sued for $2.8 million by landlord over ice cream shop lease

Christopher Powell claims that he entered into a 10-year commercial lease with Banks for her to set up her ice cream shop, only for her to abandon the property months later.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and *NME*.

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on December 12, 2025 8:21 p.m. ET

Tyra Banks attends the VIP launch of SMiZE & DREAM Ice Cream on June 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. Credit:

Don Arnold/WireImage

A Washington, D.C., landlord has filed a $2.8 million breach of contract lawsuit against Tyra Banks and her ice cream business, Smize & Dream.**

In court documents obtained by* *, Christopher Powell claims that he entered into a 10-year commercial lease in April 2024 with Banks, her nonprofit School of SMiZE, and partner Louis Martin that would see her open up an ice cream shop in his D.C. building. However, he claims that Banks suddenly terminated the lease that summer and is now refusing to pay rent. **

Tyra Banks in Beverly Hills, Calif., on April 24, 2025.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

In his Oct. 9 complaint, Powell claimed that he first met with defendants in March 2024 and agreed to lease them the building “as-is” a month later after learning Banks was building the shop in honor of her mom, Carolyn London. **

“She said Smize & Dream would not only be an ice cream shop, but also an initiative to provide underserved youth in Washington with education in science, sales, and hospitality,” the filing read. “Ms. Banks told Mr. Powell that the D.C. location in his building would be the flagship location of what Ms. Banks envisioned as a global chain serving communities around the world.”

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After collaborating with the defendants on the project, Powell claimed that he saw Banks showcasing their designs for a Smize & Dream shop opening in Sydney, Australia, instead. Banks and Martin then “abruptly abandoned the premises in June 2024” and refused to pay rent, according to the suit.**

The complaint noted that Powell had “no indication that Ms. Banks and Mr. Martin would desert the venture,” especially given they had “repeatedly conveyed their dedication to opening Smize & Dream in his building.”**

However, Powell alleged in the docs that “a few weeks after they abandoned his building,” Banks threw a Smize & Dream pop-up shop just miles away from his property. The lawsuit added, “While Mr. Powell scrambled to address the legal and financial fallout from their abandonment, Ms. Banks and Mr. Martin had already launched an alternative Smize and Dream venture elsewhere while ignoring their legal obligations.”**

While he attempted to “reach an amicable resolution” with the defendants at first, Powell claimed in the complaint that he received a letter from Martin and Banks that “lodged numerous false accusations against Mr. Powell, his building, and the lease” that September.**

“They made claims of deficiency in the property that are both untrue and irrelevant, and threatened to publicize their lies if Mr. Powell filed a lawsuit against them,” it read. “Ms. Banks and Mr. Martin also stated that even if Mr. Powell filed a lawsuit and secured a ruling against them, they would not pay any judgment. Instead, they would avoid liability by shifting blame onto their company that they claim has no assets.”

Tyra Banks attends Tyra Banks Hosts 'SMiZE & DREAM' Hot Ice Cream First Taste at Artechouse NYC on Dec. 10, 2025 in New York City.

Manny Carabel/Getty

The lawsuit notes that Martin and Banks “ultimately opened Smize & Dream in Australia,” where they have since relocated. It adds, “Although Mr. Powell made repeated good faith efforts to resolve this matter amicably, he is now left with deep financial loss and no choice but to file suit.” **

Under the terms of their lease, which are included in the complaint, Powell is asking for “no less than $2,831,331 in addition to late fees, accrued interest, Additional Rent, attorneys’ fees, and reletting expenses” in relation to the case.

** reached out to Powell's lawyer, Arziki Adamu, who sent the following statement on behalf of their client.

"Mr. Powell has worked with other high-profile clients with only positive results, and speaks publicly now solely to protect his professional reputation," Adamu tells EW.

"After executing a valid lease and utilizing my client's property, Defendants suddenly informed Mr. Powell they were abandoning the building and offered no explanation. Once Defendants made it clear they would not honor the agreement, Mr. Powell was left with no option but to sue," Adamu continues. "He addressed this matter as promptly as possible given Defendants' abrupt abandonment and his other business and personal obligations. His demand is solely for the amount to which he is entitled under the lease. To date, my client remains open to resolving this matter in good faith, but Defendants prefer to drag him through litigation despite knowing they are in flagrant breach. All we ask is that the Court enforce a valid contract. Thank you."

Meanwhile, lawyers for Banks and Martin have yet to respond to EW’s request for comment.**

But the legal saga isn’t over quite yet. A docket for the case, obtained by EW, reveals Banks and Martin's lawyer, Steven Willner, filed a motion to dismiss the suit “for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and for failure to state a claim” on Nov. 11.  **

Powell and his lawyer, Adamu, were granted an extension to file their response from judge Amy Berman Jackson on Nov. 21. The plaintiff “must file its response to defendants’ motion to dismiss by Dec. 16” for the case to proceed.

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