Star Singer's Shuttered Harlem Nail Salon Owes Thousands In Rent: Suit

HARLEM, NY — More than two years after a star singer shuttered her short-lived Harlem nail salon, her former landlord says she still owes thousands in unpaid rent, according to a new lawsuit.

Teyana Taylor, the Harlem-born musician and actress known for hits like "Gonna Love Me" and for her collaborations with artists like Kanye West and Missy Elliott, made headlines in 2018 when she opened Junie Bee Nails on Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard near West 137th Street.

The colorful salon was named after her daughter and celebrated the 1990s, a decade that Taylor loved for its "raw" attitude and positive energy.

"And the nails—they had so much fun with the nails, because you weren’t judged for how you wanted to wear them, no matter how fun or long," she told Vogue at the time.

But in June 2020, Junie Bee announced its closure in a cryptic Instagram post that alluded to unspecified business struggles.

"From the beginning of our journey we were second guessed and they attempted to minimize the success of a BLACKED OWNED BUSINESS," the post read. "We’ve endured less than equal treatment as an occupant but we stood strong amongst the opposition!"

The post said Junie Bee planned to purchase its own larger space, but the salon has not announced any reopening in the ensuing years.

Now comes the lawsuit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court last week against Taylor and Junie Bee by the landlord of its old Harlem building.

Solomon Gottlieb, a managing agent for the landlord, purchased the building in February 2020 — just weeks before Junie Bee "abandoned the premises," according to the lawsuit, which was first reported by the Grio.

But Junie Bee never paid its nearly $4,000 in monthly rent from Feb. 2019 to Feb. 2020, amounting to $48,739 combined, the lawsuit alleges.

A representative for Taylor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.