> At a Glance
> – Tyra Banks and her business partner Louis Martin face a $2.8 million lawsuit from D.C. landlord Christopher Powell after allegedly walking away from a 10-year lease.
> – Powell claims they deserted the Eastern Market property in June 2024 without paying rent or giving notice.
> – The model’s company, Smize & Dream, opened a pop-up nearby in July 2024 and now operates a flagship store in Sydney.
> – Why it matters: The dispute highlights financial risks landlords face when high-profile tenants abandon long-term commercial leases.
A D.C. landlord says supermodel Tyra Banks and her partner signed a decade-long lease for an ice-cream shop, invested months of planning, then vanished-leaving him with empty space and mounting losses.
Lease Signed, Then Abandoned
In March 2024, Powell met with Banks and Martin to bring Smize & Dream to his Eastern Market building. On April 17, Martin inked the 10-year commercial lease, court papers state.
Powell claims that by June, the pair had:
- Vacated the premises
- Stopped rent payments
- Given no explanation
He says he had already sunk “extensive” money into the build-out and turned away other prospective tenants.
Pop-Up Opens Nearby While Lawsuit Brews
While Powell dealt with what he calls “legal and financial fallout,” he spotted then-Vice President Kamala Harris on TV eating Smize & Dream ice cream at a Woodley Park pop-up that launched in July 2024.
Banks has said her mother inspired the brand and her D.C.-based brother influenced the District choice. In June 2025, she unveiled a flagship location in Sydney, Australia.
Counter-Claims and Court Shuffle
In September 2024, Banks and Martin sent Powell a letter alleging they were promised the entire building, not partial space, and cited mechanical, electrical, and plumbing defects.
Key timeline:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sept 9, 2024 | Formal lease-termination notice sent by tenants |
| Aug 20, 2024 | Powell demanded immediate payment |
| Oct 2024 | Powell filed $2.8 M suit in U.S. District Court |
| Nov 2024 | Banks & Martin moved to dismiss |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Case dismissed to be re-filed in D.C. Superior Court |
Key Takeaways
- Powell’s suit seeks $2.8 million for lost rent and damages.
- The defendants argue the space was not delivered as promised.
- The litigation now shifts to D.C. Superior Court after the federal judge’s dismissal.
As the case moves forward, it spotlights the clash between celebrity-branded ventures and small landlords when grand plans melt faster than ice cream on a hot D.C. day.
