Worked in downtown Chicago for 2 decades. A 7-hour day is not Standard. GP must have worked at some sort of hippie commune across the river.

Most common official working hours are 8-4, since there are so many banks and exchanges that want to be on the same work schedule as NYC markets.

Also it gets dark at 4:30 in December/Jan and millions of perestrians, cars, dark, and icy streets aren’t a very safe combo.