With the new trend toward openness, gay-oriented places have become more dispersed around the metropolitan area and spread to the suburbs, leading some to wonder if this may make the enclave in Ni-chome irrelevant.But so far at least, predictions of the area's demise have proved premature. One of the factors spurring its revival has been a growing influx of lesbians. Until recently, few businesses catered to this trade, but the district now boasts about 20 such establishments.
